FUTTER BEI DIE FISCHE

The report evaluates seven German retailers (ALDI Nord, ALDI Süd, EDEKA, KAUFLAND, LIDL, REWE, and METRO AG) on their use of wild fish in aquaculture feed. It finds that none of the companies met even half of the sustainability criteria, with METRO AG performing the worst. The document argues for the 'decoupling' of aquaculture from wild fisheries to protect marine ecosystems and food security, suggesting alternatives like algae oil, insects, and the farming of non-predatory species such as carp and mussels.

• The global aquaculture industry is heavily dependent on wild fish, with approximately 20 million tonnes of wild fish processed annually into fishmeal and fish oil, representing nearly 20% of the total global catch.
• Of the wild fish processed into fishmeal and fish oil, nearly 80% is fed to farmed fish, which puts significant pressure on wild fish stocks rather than relieving them.
• An evaluation of seven German retailers using 13 indicators revealed that no company fulfilled even half of the conditions for sustainable aquaculture supply chains.
• KAUFLAND ranked highest in the assessment, being the only retailer to offer salmon fed with algae oil instead of fish oil in its own-brand range since February 2020.
• METRO AG ranked lowest, fulfilling only 10% of the indicators and failing to respond to the study's survey.
• The report identifies significant social and ecological damage caused by the fishmeal and fish oil industry in Gambia, India, and Vietnam, including threats to local food security.
• In Gambia, research showed that fish processed in a single fishmeal and fish oil factory accounted for approximately 40% of the country's total reported fish catch in 2016.
• The use of soy as a protein substitute in aquaculture feed contributes to deforestation in South America, particularly Brazil, where an estimated 1,800 square kilometers of tropical forest are destroyed annually for soy used in animal feed.
• The report argues that existing certifications, such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and MarinTrust (formerly IFFO), are insufficient to guarantee sustainability as non-sustainable practices were observed in certified operations.
• Sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil include algae oil, insect-based proteins, and plant-based substitutes from rapeseed, corn, or wheat.
• The report recommends promoting the consumption of 'fried fish' (non-predatory fish) like carp, tilapia, and catfish, as well as mussels, which require little to no fishmeal in their diet.

APA

Fietz, K. (2020). FUTTER BEI DIE FISCHE. Changing Markets Foundation. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bericht_Futter_bei_die_Fische_Screen_RZ_DS.pdf

Chicago

Fietz, Katharina. FUTTER BEI DIE FISCHE. Changing Markets Foundation, 2020. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bericht_Futter_bei_die_Fische_Screen_RZ_DS.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fietz |first1=Katharina |title=FUTTER BEI DIE FISCHE |publisher=Changing Markets Foundation |date=30 November 2020 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bericht_Futter_bei_die_Fische_Screen_RZ_DS.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fietz2020futter, author = {Fietz, Katharina}, title = {{FUTTER BEI DIE FISCHE}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bericht_Futter_bei_die_Fische_Screen_RZ_DS.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }