Responsible Feed is Integral to Responsible Aquaculture
According to State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2026), a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aquatic animal foods are increasingly central to diets with 89 percent of production of aquatic animals going to human consumption – supplying at least one-fifth of the animal protein consumption of 3.1 billion people. The seafood sector also supports more than 600 million livelihoods worldwide. For aquaculture to support a growing world, the aquatic feed sector must continually focus on reducing pressure on wild stocks and incorporate improved environmental and socially responsible production practices.
The most recent report by The Outlaw Ocean Project brings fresh attention to complex feed challenges and reinforces the importance of continued progress across the seafood supply chain. The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has long recognized the intrinsic link between responsible production of aquaculture and the feed that goes into it. This understanding is reflected in the operation of its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Feed Mill Standard and in collaborative industry efforts.
Since its inception in 2010, the BAP Feed Mill Standard has consistently strived to improve industry practices toward feed safety and quality, social accountability, environmental responsibility, and traceability. In 2026, GSA modified its current standard to more directly integrate and clarify the role of marine by-products and novel meal and oil ingredients in responsible sourcing requirements. More recently, GSA convened a technical committee for the upcoming BAP Feed Mill Standard Issue 4.0. This major revision will explore emerging best practices in aquafeeds, including the role of marine ingredients, and how to most effectively assure responsible sourcing and inclusion. The organization will provide ongoing updates to this process as it evolves, including a period for public comment. All public comments will be reviewed for standard update inclusion and addressed individually.
While a critical part of improvement, GSA acknowledges that certification is only one aspect of the feed solution. In an industry as diverse, complex, and interconnected as seafood, significant progress cannot happen in isolation. The organization convenes with feed manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, seafood producers, retailers, social and technical experts, certification programs, NGOs, and other organizations. GSA and its partners collaborate across the global supply chain to identify challenges, share critical information, develop shared goals and strategies, and initiate industry-wide projects to address systemic challenges and create sound, scalable solutions. GSA welcomes additional collaboration with solutions-focused groups and individuals.
Responsible feed provides complex challenges in a complicated supply chain, and addressing them requires sustained action and cooperation. GSA is committed to advancing practical solutions through the continued evolution of the BAP Feed Mill Standard and active collaboration. By raising expectations, strengthening transparency, and working with partners, GSA aims to drive meaningful, lasting progress.
Read more about GSA’s Commitment to Responsible Feed: https://info.globalseafood.org/feed
