Until the Seas Run Dry

The report argues that industrial aquaculture is unsustainable due to its heavy reliance on wild-caught fish for feed, which threatens marine ecosystems, undermines food security in the Global South, and creates a massive animal welfare crisis. It highlights that nearly 20% of wild fish catches are processed into FMFO, often targeting keystone forage species and juveniles. The document criticizes the lack of transparency among aquafeed companies and the inadequacy of current certification schemes like the MSC and IFFO. To address these issues, it recommends a transition toward herbivorous species, alternative proteins like insects and algae, and stricter governance to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

• Industrial aquaculture relies heavily on wild-caught fish, with nearly 20% of total global wild fish catches processed into fishmeal and fish-oil (FMFO), of which 69% of fishmeal and 75% of fish-oil are used to feed farmed fish.
• The industry targets keystone forage fish (such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and herring) and crustaceans (krill), which are critical for transferring energy to higher trophic level predators. This exploitation risks localised population collapses and disrupts marine food webs.
• In East Asia, reduction fisheries are increasingly using juvenile fish and bycatch for feed, with estimates suggesting 36 million tonnes of low-value fish are used as direct feed, representing up to 50% of catches in China and Thailand.
• The use of wild fish for FMFO threatens food security in West Africa and Southeast Asia, as 90% of the fish used in FMFO are food-grade or prime-food-grade and could be consumed directly by humans.
• Major aquafeed producers, including Cargill, MOWI, BioMar, and Skretting, source ingredients from regions like West Africa and Latin America where fishmeal production is linked to pollution, corruption, and the destruction of coastal ecosystems.
• Current aquaculture certification schemes are deemed problematic; the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is criticized for certifying fish not used for human consumption, while the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) is viewed as having a conflict of interest as both a standard-setter and industry representative.
• The production of FMFO creates a significant animal welfare crisis, with approximately 0.51 trillion sentient forage fish caught annually to be reduced into ingredients.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2019). Until the Seas Run Dry. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/EX-SUMMARY-UNTILL-THE-SEAS-DRY.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Until the Seas Run Dry. 2019. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/EX-SUMMARY-UNTILL-THE-SEAS-DRY.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Until the Seas Run Dry |date=April 2019 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/EX-SUMMARY-UNTILL-THE-SEAS-DRY.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2019until, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Until the Seas Run Dry}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2019}, month = apr, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/EX-SUMMARY-UNTILL-THE-SEAS-DRY.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }