Global fishmeal and fish oil production falls – Global fishmeal and fish oil production has been impacted by the decline in Peruvian anchovy catches, causing a significant reduction in overall production in the first eight months of 2023.
According to the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO), fishmeal production decreased by 28% compared to the same period in 2022, mainly due to a drastic 70% reduction in Peruvian catches.
As for fish oil, cumulative production in the first eight months of this year was 24% lower than the previous year. The exception is Chile, which saw an increase due to higher catches and above-average oil yields in the country’s southern region.
This decline in fishmeal and fish oil production has a significant impact on China’s supply chain, already struggling with rising production costs and less robust demand for fish products.
Experts such as Enrico Bachis of the IFFO emphasise the need to observe the trend of the resource between November and January in order to make forecasts on availability towards the end of 2023. The current situation is characterised by uncertainty, but gives hope for an increase in production in the following year.
Ángel Perea, research director at the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (IMARPE), explains that research is underway to assess the biomass and reproductive condition of anchovies in the central-northern part of Peru, the most productive area. Although the coastal El Niño of 2023 is not yet over, an improvement in environmental conditions along the coast can be observed. There are temperature variations from +4ºC to +2ºC and a ‘natural increase in the size of the anchovies’.
Now, points out Perea, it is time to conduct extensive laboratory work to estimate the parameters of the adults and calculate the daily egg production of this resource. The presence of eggs in the water indicates the spawning period. It will be interesting to observe how long this period may last under abnormal environmental conditions. A window of opportunity is opening for maturation and spawning, part of the anchovy reproductive strategy to cope with the coastal El Niño of 2023.
Global fishmeal and fish oil production falls
