The FAIRR Initiative’s latest analysis determined seven of the world’s largest salmon-farming companies are facing a “critical constraint,” as overreliance on declining wild-caught sources for fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) are hampering growth, making it imperative that producers diversify feed sources and product portfolios.
The global investor network’s recent study, “De-risking Salmon Feed: The Wild-Caught Fish Dilemma,” was released ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in France after a four-year engagement with producers Bakkafrost, Grieg Seafood, Lerøy Seafood, Mowi, Multi X, SalMar, and Salmones Camanchaca.
The report predicts that with farmed salmon production predicted to grow 40 percent by 2033 and with nearly 90 percent of wild fish stocks already overexploited or fully exploited, the industry will face intensifying pressure to secure sustainable feed sources. Additionally, weather patterns and climate change could also reduce the availability of fish stocks and, therefore, increase FMFO price volatility.
