Überfischung2

The report finds that Swiss retailers largely fail to ensure sustainable aquaculture supply chains, with none meeting half of the assessed sustainability indicators. It highlights the ecological and social risks of using wild fish for aquaculture feed, the inadequacy of current certification labels, and the poor state of fish welfare in farms. The authors advocate for the decoupling of aquaculture from wild fisheries through alternative feeds and the promotion of herbivorous fish species.

• The global aquaculture industry is heavily dependent on fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild fish, which undermines the sustainability of the sector. Approximately 15 to 18 million tonnes of wild fish are processed into fishmeal and oil annually, representing nearly 20% of the global catch, with almost 80% of this being fed to farmed fish.
• The use of wild fish for aquaculture feed threatens food security in developing nations. In Gambia, research indicated that fish processed in a single fishmeal and oil factory accounted for about 40% of the country's total reported fish catch in 2016, diverting essential protein from the local population.
• An evaluation of seven major Swiss retailers (Migros, Coop, Denner, Aldi, Volg, Lidl, and Spar) using 13 indicators revealed a significant lack of sustainability and transparency. No company met even half of the indicators, and none have established clear, time-bound goals to eliminate wild fish from their aquaculture supply chains.
• Current aquaculture certifications, including the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and MarinTrust (formerly IFFO), are criticized as ineffective. The report claims these labels often overlook the dubious origin of fishmeal and oil and fail to address fish welfare standards.
• Fish welfare in aquaculture is in crisis, characterized by high mortality rates and inhumane slaughter practices. In Scotland, mortality rates in salmon farms rose from 3.1% in 2002 to 13.5% in 2019, driven by infections, algal blooms, and parasite treatments.
• The economic cost of poor farming practices in the top four salmon-producing countries (Canada, Norway, Chile, and Scotland) between 2013 and 2019 is estimated at nearly 50 billion USD, with mortality alone accounting for 15.5 billion USD.
• Sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil exist, including plant-based substitutes (potatoes, wheat, corn, rapeseed) and microalgae, which provide essential EPA and DHA. Additionally, farming herbivorous species like carp, tilapia, and mussels significantly reduces the need for wild fish feed.
• The use of soy as a fishmeal replacement is problematic due to its link to deforestation in South America, particularly Brazil, where up to 20% of soy imported to Europe may originate from illegal cultivation.

APA

Fietz, K. (n.d.). Überfischung2. Changing Markets Foundation. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Uberfischung2_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Fietz, Katharina. Überfischung2. Changing Markets Foundation, n.d. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Uberfischung2_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fietz |first1=Katharina |title=Überfischung2 |publisher=Changing Markets Foundation |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Uberfischung2_FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fietzndberfischung2, author = {Fietz, Katharina}, title = {{Überfischung2}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Uberfischung2_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }