'Time running out' for blue whiting as a salmon feed ingredient
Advocacy group renews warning that fish farmers and retailers will boycott the fish if states can't agree sustainable catch limits in Northeast Atlantic
A group that includes the world’s biggest salmon farmers and heavyweight UK retailers has renewed warnings that continued mismanagement of Northeast Atlantic blue whiting stocks and ongoing political inaction on sharing pelagic quotas pose a very real threat to economies and the environment of so-called Coastal States of the North Atlantic.
The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) is contrasting the attention that movie plot issues such as climate action, politics, and business will get at the Oscars in Hollywood with the modest attention that will be paid to an issue due to be raised at the annual North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) in Bergen, Norway, this week.
“There certainly won’t be the same level of political and media attention given to one of the critical stories unfolding right now in the Northeast Atlantic – one with the very same components at heart,” said NAPA.
This locally sourced resource is vital to Atlantic salmon aquaculture, and our customers will not accept using blue whiting without certification
Dave Robb, Cargill
Time running out
“NASF’s discussions will include the many challenges facing the seafood sector in a rapidly changing landscape - and they make for a compelling story. Plotlines include the long-term mismanagement of key pelagic fish stocks, the consequences for the industries they support, and the failure so far of political powers in the Coastal States to act.
“And for one pelagic species in particular - Northeast Atlantic blue whiting - time is running out. Often processed into fishmeal, blue whiting plays a crucial supporting role as a key feed ingredient for farmed salmon - one of the world’s most popular seafood choices. Yet its huge importance is seemingly unrecognised by those with the power to protect it - who, through their own inaction, continue to enable overfishing.”
For Northeast Atlantic blue whiting, those with the power to protect the fish are leaders in the European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. They are the Coastal States responsible for almost 90% of catches.
Suspended by MSC and MarinTrust
Blue whiting has already seen the suspension of its sustainability certifications, prompting NAPA to develop a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in 2021. Through this project, NAPA aims to see the fishery regain both Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and MarinTrust certifications, using science, research and advocacy to break the political deadlock and drive co-operation.
But it says this won’t be possible until all the Coastal States – which are responsible for agreeing management of the blue whiting fishery - come to a long-term, sustainable sharing agreement for the stock. Without this, NAPA members will be forced to reconsider sourcing from this fishery - and soon, because the FIP runs out in 2026.
“Blue whiting has immense value, sustaining the fishmeal sector for decades,” said Dave Robb, sustainability lead at feed giant Cargill and NAPA Blue Whiting subgroup chair. “This locally sourced resource is vital to Atlantic salmon aquaculture, and our customers will not accept using blue whiting without certification. Time is running out, and there are very limited alternatives to replace blue whiting as a sustainable ingredient in salmon feed.”
NAPA has seen a growth in membership across the last year from businesses in the salmon industry – for whom certified MSC and MarinTrust status across their feed supply is non-negotiable.
NAPA chair Aoife Martin
Aoife Martin, independent chair of NAPA, said: “Certified products are the only way to evidence sustainable and responsible procurement to consumers. If fisheries cannot be certified sustainable as a result of political complacency, then many important actors will need to reconsider what they source and from where. This will have a direct economic impact, not only on fishers but also on salmon farmers around the Coastal States. NAPA has seen a growth in membership across the last year from businesses in the salmon industry – for whom certified MSC and MarinTrust status across their feed supply is non-negotiable. It’s a clear signal of how unsettled the marketplace is at the failure to reach agreement.”
NAPA is also keen to dispel any complacency due to recent stock advice for blue whiting - which it said may appear to show the fishery in robust health despite continued overfishing.
Not listening to science
Martin said: “Coastal States are simply not listening to the scientific guidance they claim to endorse. They are allowing the current healthy status of the blue whiting stock to distract them from the need for action. Far from being evidence that the fishery is not under pressure, the historical data - and everything we know about sustainable fishing practices as a set of advanced fishing nations - tells us that no stock can withstand overfishing indefinitely.
“This stock is relied upon by nationally significant and culturally essential industries. It’s never been more urgent for Coastal States to come together to secure a future for North Atlantic blue whiting – a future that makes good business sense for everyone.”
NAPA’s members include world’s largest Atlantic salmon farmer, Mowi, and third largest, Cermaq, along with Scottish Sea Farms, which is co-owned by world No.2 farmer SalMar and Lerøy, the world No.4. Lerøy is also a NAPA member in its own right.
Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s feed arm, Northeast Nutrition, and Scottish Sea Farms’ feed producer BioMar, are also NAPA members, as is processor Aquascot, which supplies upmarket retailer Waitrose.
Nearly all of the UK’s big-name retailers - Aldi, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Coop, Marks and Spencer, and Sainsbury’s – are also on board.
