Ban urged on use of West African fish oil by Norwegian salmon farmers

A coalition of 39 organizations, including West African small-scale fishing sector representatives and international environmental groups, has urged the Norwegian government to prohibit its salmon producers from using fish oil sourced from West Africa due to the region's food insecurity. They argue that this oil could potentially feed up to four million people, as the fish used for production are instead exported for salmon farming feed. The coalition also calls for a curb on the expansion of Norway's salmon farming industry and transparency in corporate supply chains. The larger aquafeed companies, such as Mowi, Skretting, Cargill, and BioMar, which supply most of the feed used in Norwegian salmon farming, have defended their practices, stating they only source from certified or Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) suppliers and ensure full traceability. The International Fish Food and Allied Industries (IFFO) also supports these practices, highlighting the importance of fishmeal and fish oil in salmon nutrition and the net positive environmental impact of salmon farming, as supported by science and improving feed formulations.