Questions raised over sustainability assessment
Forage fish dependency ratio (FFDR) – a measure often used to assess the sustainability of feed production – has “little bearing on the harvest levels of forage fish populations” and should not be used by organisations such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
So argues Dr Neil Auchterlonie, Technical Director of IFFO, in a paper analysing FFDR, which was published this week.
“Caution needs to be exercised in how the information is interpreted, and the figures produced for FFDR should not be examined in isolation nor should values for FFDR be used directly as measures of environmental sustainability,” he warns.
“Fishmeal and fish oil produced from forage fish populations provides a substantial contribution to global food production and consequently is essential in meeting the nutritional requirements of billions of people around the world. The use of the term FFDR confuses the issue by incorrectly assuming that the species used in marine ingredient production would have higher value to society in other areas such as direct consumption markets, or by environmental benefits through conservation. As long as fishmeal and fish oil are produced from well managed fisheries, or from byproduct from fish from well managed fisheries, then their use in aquafeeds is valid,” he continues.
As a result, Dr Auchterlonie suggests that proposals to reduce FFDR requirements in diets fed to farms that want to achieve ASC accreditation, should be reconsidered.
“Currently, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is seeking feedback on FFDR in its Salmon Standard, which is open and reflects a proposal by the ASC to reduce the FFDR requirements even further for both fishmeal and fish oil. At a time when salmon farmers may wish to differentiate their product through higher marine ingredient inclusions in their feeds, FFDR and the setting of values in ASC Salmon Standard effectively denies that opportunity to those farmers who may wish to be both ASC certified and produce premium end, niche product, even if this is a minor proportion of overall production and has little effect on global fishmeal and fish oil supply,” he reflects.
According to Dr Auchterlonie, the FFDR concept is essentially not fit for purpose.
“There is often a lot of focus on the term FFDR in analyses of fed aquaculture’s environmental impact, but in reality the concept has little bearing on the harvest levels of forage fish populations, although it was constructed to do exactly that,” he concludes.
To see the full paper, click here
