The importance of fish by-products in the marine ingredients supply chain is growing fast, and yet remains under-recognised. That was the message delivered by Brett Glencross, Technical Director at IFFO (International Fishmeal & Fish Oil) during the organisation’s annual conference in Tokyo, which gathered over 500 delegates from 46 countries.

Glencross emphasized that the annual growth in fish by-product fishmeal alone now exceeds the combined growth of insect meal, algal oil, and single-cell proteins (SCPs). This points to a shifting landscape in feed-ingredient sourcing, where traditional marine derived inputs remain central even as novel alternatives advance.

Sustainability narrative & reporting

Glencross also highlighted the need for greater objectivity in the sustainability discussion around marine ingredients. He pointed to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the European Union as a key opportunity for the sector to articulate clearly the role of marine ingredients in global food systems.

Climate change impacts on forage fisheries

In a connected presentation, Christopher Free (Associate Researcher at University of California, Santa Barbara) shared his latest research on climate-change impacts in the forage-fish sector. He noted that, as oceans warm, forage-fish stocks are likely to shift toward the poles: for example, some West African species may move northward.

Free described a two-phase shift in the ingredient ecosystem. Gradual change is expected through to 2050, followed by more rapid change. He stressed the need for industry adaptability: diversify the portfolio of target species, reassess facility location decisions, and anticipate physiological changes in fish (smaller sizes, higher oxygen requirements, lower dissolved oxygen in warmer seas).

The promise and challenge of single-cell proteins

Meanwhile, Matt Longshaw (Research & Application Manager at SCP-producer Calysta) presented on the status of single-cell proteins (yeast/fungi, micro-algae, bacteria) in aquaculture feed. He noted that despite interest, SCPs are not yet deployed at scale in aquaculture; many projects remain at pilot stage, and commercial use has leaned more toward livestock, pet and human food markets.

He added that significant capital investment (hundreds of millions of dollars) is required to bring SCPs up to full scale and reduce costs. Longshaw anticipates market consolidation—fewer but larger players in the future. Importantly, he stressed that SCPs are not expected to replace conventional protein sources entirely, but rather to complement them and provide additional functional benefits.

What this means for the aquaculture industry

• The growth of fish by-products suggests a strong continuing role for marine-derived ingredients in feeds.
• Adaptability to climate-driven shifts in forage-fish distribution and biology is increasingly critical.
• While SCPs are promising, they are not yet ready to supplant established ingredient streams – planning around them requires realistic timelines.
• Sustainability reporting (e.g., under the CSRD) offers a chance for the industry to clarify and communicate the value of marine ingredients.