Fish meal is a high protein powder or cake that is made from grinding up whole fish. It is used as a livestock feed, as well as a fertilizer and supplement in aquaculture. Fish meal is made from both fresh and salt water fish. The most common fish used are small, oily fish such as anchovies, herring, menhaden, and sardines.
The main disadvantages of fish meal are:
1. It is a finite resource.
As fish stocks decline around the world, the availability of fish meal is also declining. This is especially true for small, oily fish, which are the most commonly used in fish meal production.
2. It is expensive.
The high protein content of fish meal makes it an expensive livestock feed. This is passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices for fish and fish products.
3. It has a high carbon footprint.
The production of fish meal