UK salmon suppliers switch to chicken-derived feed
Norwegian seafood group Lerøy Seafood Group, which supplies Tesco, has introduced poultry-derived ingredients into its fish feed, with the company saying the move has helped reduce its carbon footprint.
“The availability of marine raw materials is limited, and a broader range of feed ingredients will be needed if we are to continue producing seafood responsibly in the future,” Jørgen Skeide, from Lerøy, told The Independent. The company added that it only uses by-products from poultry raised for human consumption, including parts that people do not eat.
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Elsewhere, other producers are following suit. Grieg Seafood introduced chicken meal into its feed in July, while SalMar began testing poultry-based feed in March.
Industry group The Global Salmon Initiative said using chicken by-products could reduce waste and ease pressure on wild fish stocks. Its chief executive, Sophie Ryan, said the approach could lower the environmental impact of salmon farming while maintaining nutritional value.
Director of food policy at the British Retail Consortium Jim Bligh said: “All fish feed is licensed and strictly controlled by the Food Standards Agency.
“Retailers work closely with their suppliers to source more sustainable feed, taking into account factors such as the environmental impact of ingredients and alternative options that can reduce the pressure on wild-caught fish species.”
