Fish meal

Fish meal or fishmeal, is a commercial product made from fish and the bones and offal from processed fish.

In the UK the term fish meal means a product obtained by drying and grinding or otherwise treating fish or fish waste to which no other matter has been added.

1. What is fish meal? Fish meal or  fishmeal , is a commercial product made from  fish  and the bones and  offal  from processed fish. In the UK the term fish meal means a product obtained by drying and grinding or otherwise treating fish or fish waste to which no other matter has been added. UK – United Kingdom (England / Great Britain)

2. What raw material is used? A ny fish or shellfish in the sea can be used to make fish meal. A few rare unexploited species which would produce a poisonous meal . Most of the world’s fish meal is made from whole fish; the pelagic species are used most for this purpose . Countries with major industrial fisheries are Peru, Norway and South Africa.

3. A typical fish meal process diagram. Source: FAO

4. Hygiene in the Factory Contamination of the material during processing may seriously affect quality; microorganisms like   Salmonella  that may ultimately cause disease in man have to be kept out.

5. Storage and transport of fish meal Fish meal is not readily spoiled by bacterial action because of its low water content. It has a very small bulk compared to the fish from which it is made ; There is no need to refrigerate the meal in storage.

6. Composition of material during the process.

7. Distribution Fish meal has been used as a feedstuff since the 19th century in Northern Europe and is now used worldwide. Global production of fish meal has been stable for the past two decades at around 5 to 6 million tons, Peru and Chile being the main producers.

8. Advantages of using fishmeal in animal feeds Natural and sustainable, fishmeal provides a concentrated source of high quality protein and a fat rich in omega-3 fatty acid, DHA and EPA.

9. Fish Meal Fish Feed

10. Fish meal is recognized as a valuable animal protein supplement and a source of vitamins, minerals and unknown growth factors. Fish meals are added to the diet as high quality supplements to obtain efficient diets, particularly for aquaculture & animal feed.