#fishmeal

"Salmon Run"

Is she bringing the salmon up the bank to fertilize the trees, or to eat it? Why not both? 🐟🌲

Tamil Nadu's shrimp farmers are struggling with escalating costs. Replacing traditional fishmeal with insect feed, now leaves them with healthier shrimps and greater profits.

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Credits:

Supervising Producer: Nooshin Mowla

Field Producers: Roohi Sahay & Animesh Tiwari

Script Inputs: Roohi Sahay

Producer & Script: Ipsita Basu

Video Editor: Sujit Lad

Director of Photography: Hoshedar Shroff

Camera Assistant: Mantesh Kallimani

Camera (Tamil Nadu): Saraskanth TK

Voiceover: Rhicha Vyas

The Fish Meal Market is entering a significant growth phase as global demand for high-protein animal feed and sustainable aquaculture ingredients reshapes the feed industry. Valued at USD 1.05 billion in 2025, the market is projected to rise to USD 1.12 billion in 2026 and further expand to USD 1.82 billion by 2036, reflecting a steady CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period.

According to the latest industry outlook from Future Market Insights, market growth is no longer driven solely by traditional livestock feed applications. Instead, the industry is evolving through increasing demand from aquaculture production, improved fish processing technologies, and sustainable utilization of marine resources across animal nutrition and agriculture.

Request Sample Report – https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-601

Growing Demand for High-Protein Feed Ingredients

Fish meal is widely recognized as one of the most valuable protein-rich ingredients used in animal feed formulations. Produced from whole fish or fish processing by-products, it offers a balanced profile of essential amino acids, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals required for optimal animal growth.

The expansion of aquaculture farming, poultry production, and livestock industries is significantly boosting demand for fish meal. Aquaculture remains the largest consumer of fish meal globally, as fish and shrimp farming require nutrient-dense feed ingredients to ensure healthy growth and high productivity.

With increasing global seafood consumption, aquaculture production continues to rise, further strengthening the demand for fish meal as a key feed component.

Technological Advancements in Fish Processing

Technological innovations in fish processing and feed manufacturing are playing a crucial role in improving fish meal production efficiency and sustainability.

Manufacturers are investing in advanced processing systems that improve protein quality, reduce waste, and enhance nutritional value. These technologies include:

• Advanced drying and grinding technologies • Efficient oil extraction processes • Improved preservation and storage methods • Utilization of fish processing by-products for sustainable production

Such innovations help reduce environmental impact while maximizing the value of marine resources used in fish meal production.

Expanding Applications Across Livestock and Aquaculture

While aquaculture remains the dominant application segment, fish meal is also widely used across multiple animal nutrition sectors.

Key application areas include:

• Aquaculture feed for fish and shrimp farming • Poultry feed to improve growth performance and egg production • Swine feed to enhance protein intake and nutrient balance • Pet food industry for premium animal nutrition formulations

The high digestibility and superior nutritional composition of fish meal make it one of the most effective protein sources in animal feed production.

Regional Outlook: Asia-Pacific Leading Demand Growth

Fish meal demand varies significantly across regions based on aquaculture production and livestock farming activities.

Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global fish meal market due to the rapid expansion of aquaculture industries in countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. These nations represent some of the largest seafood producers globally and rely heavily on fish meal for feed formulations.

Latin America is another key production region, particularly Peru and Chile, which are among the world’s largest exporters of fish meal derived from anchovy fisheries.

Meanwhile, North America and Europe maintain steady demand driven by high-quality feed standards, advanced aquaculture technologies, and growing pet food industries.

Key Market Metrics (2026–2036)

• Market Value (2026): USD 1.12 Billion • Forecast Value (2036): USD 1.82 Billion • Projected CAGR: 5.0% • Dominant Application: Aquaculture Feed • Primary Growth Driver: Rising global aquaculture production

Market Challenges: Sustainability and Resource Constraints

Despite strong growth prospects, the fish meal market faces challenges related to marine resource sustainability and supply limitations.

Overfishing concerns, environmental regulations, and fluctuating fish catch volumes can influence raw material availability. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly exploring alternative protein sources and sustainable fishery management practices to ensure long-term supply stability.

Competitive Landscape: Focus on Sustainable Marine Ingredients

The fish meal industry consists of several global producers, fisheries, and feed ingredient manufacturers. Companies are investing in sustainable fishing practices, improved processing technologies, and strategic supply partnerships to strengthen their market presence.

Key competitive strategies include:

• Sustainable sourcing of marine raw materials • Investment in advanced fish processing technologies • Expansion of aquaculture feed partnerships • Utilization of fish processing waste for value-added products

Future Outlook: Fish Meal Supporting Global Aquaculture Expansion

By 2036, fish meal will continue to play a vital role in supporting the growth of the global aquaculture and animal feed industries. As seafood demand rises and aquaculture production expands, fish meal will remain a critical ingredient for high-performance animal nutrition.

With ongoing innovation in sustainable fisheries, feed technologies, and alternative marine resources, the fish meal market is expected to experience stable growth across both developed and emerging economies in the coming decade.

With the continuous development of the domestic fishmeal industry, the number of fishmeal factories is also gradually increasing. The rapid development of fishmeal processing industry has also brought a series of environmental problems. Some small-scale fishmeal processing factories have relatively backward equipment and processes. The operation and management are not standardized, and the odor pollution is more obvious. In recent years, environmental complaints have occurred frequently due to fishmeal processing.

The source of odor from fish meal processing

Fish meal processing is a process of high-temperature steam cooking, pressing, drying, and crushing of fish and shrimp raw materials or scraps, and then making fish meal. These processes will generate a series of sewage and waste gas that need to be treated.

The main sources of odor are:

Organized emission sources: high-temperature cooking exhaust gas of wet drying furnace, drying exhaust gas of dryer;

Unorganized emission sources: raw material storage yard, waste water, waste water treatment station, raw material transfer in production, etc.

Among them, high-temperature cooking, raw material storage yard, and raw material transfer are the main sources of odor.

Malodorous gas composition analysis

The odorous gas produced during the processing of fish meal has complex chemical components and many influencing factors. There is no comprehensive composition analysis data yet. The known components are mainly acrolein, butyric acid and valeric acid, oil degradation products, and hydrogen sulfide. , ammonia, and trimethylamine. It will even produce some toxic substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, so it is necessary to reduce emissions and control odors!

Deodorization treatment method of waste gas from fish meal processing machine www.feedsmachinery.com

Odor characteristics of fish meal processing

Regarding the waste gas generated in the processing of fishmeal, we found that although the composition of fishmeal odor is relatively complex, it also has the following characteristics: easy to collect, low odor concentration, and good odor biochemical properties.

Fish meal processing odor control method

There are many ways to control the odor of fish meal processing:

Oxidative combustion deodorization

Odor is oxidized and catalytically burned by utilizing the reducing properties of most odorous substances. The former can sometimes recover heat, and the instability of production in small and medium-sized fish meal factories makes heat recovery more difficult; the latter can be operated at low temperature, but the catalyst is easily poisoned. , block, use less. It is characterized by high efficiency and high cost.

Adsorption and deodorization

Adsorbent activated carbon, activated clay and other odorous substances are used to adsorb odorous substances, with high deodorization efficiency and low power consumption. It is suitable for waste gas with low odor concentration and no particles, and is not suitable for fish meal production.

Chemical deodorization

Borrowing the chemical unit operation theory, it is suitable for the treatment of waste gas with high concentration of odor pollutants. The technology is mature, the operation is stable, the area is small, and the treatment efficiency is high.

Water-soluble deodorant

Dissolving odorous gas with water to remove odor is characterized by lower investment and operating costs, but the purification effect is not good, and the amount of wastewater produced is too large.

Biological deodorization According to the characteristics of fishmeal waste gas, combined with the advantages of chemical deodorization and adsorption deodorization, the biological trickling filtration technology is especially suitable for the waste gas pollution of fishmeal processing plants, which can improve the deodorization efficiency of fishmeal processing and reduce operating costs. For the purpose of producing fish meal with complex odor components, this method is applicable.

Fish meal production is an intricate process that involves several critical stages to ensure the quality and efficiency of the final product. Understanding these steps provides insight into how fish by-products are transformed into high-quality fish meal for various applications, especially in animal feed. At our company, we specialize in providing top-notch fish meal production equipment and customized plant solutions that cater to your specific needs. Here’s a detailed guide to the fish meal production process step by step, and how our products offer unmatched advantages.

1. Raw Material Selection and Preparation

The first step in fish meal production is selecting the raw materials, which generally include whole fish, fish by-products, and other seafood waste. The raw materials are typically gathered from fishing industries and other seafood processing plants. At this stage, it's crucial to handle the raw materials efficiently to prevent spoilage.

Our fish meal plant www.fishmealplant.com come equipped with advanced raw material handling systems that maintain the freshness and quality of the input, allowing for smooth processing. We offer fully integrated fish meal production solutions that streamline the preparation process.

2. Cooking

The cooking process is critical as it involves heating the raw materials to coagulate the proteins and separate the water and fat. Our fish meal cooker machines are designed to heat raw fish and fish waste uniformly, ensuring the highest yield of fish meal. This process effectively sterilizes the fish, making it safe for further processing.

3. Pressing

After cooking, the fish material is sent through the pressing phase, where water and oil are extracted from the fish mass. This step reduces the moisture content, further separating solid protein matter from the liquid phase. Our fish meal press machines are known for their efficiency, yielding higher-quality fish meal while minimizing waste.

4. Drying

The pressed fish cake is then dried to reduce the moisture content to the desired level, usually around 10%. This step ensures the long shelf life of the fish meal. We offer a range of fish meal dryers, including steam dryers and hot air dryers, to suit different processing requirements. Our equipment optimizes energy consumption, making your fish meal production more cost-effective.

5. Grinding and Sieving

Once the material is dry, it is ground into a fine powder. This process ensures that the fish meal meets the required particle size for animal feed. Our fish meal grinding machines ensure a consistent, uniform product that meets market standards.

6. Packaging and Storage

The final step in the fish meal production process is packaging and storing the fish meal for distribution. Proper packaging is essential to prevent moisture reabsorption and maintain the quality of the fish meal over time. Our packaging systems are designed to protect your product and simplify transportation.

Why Choose Us for Your Fish Meal Production Plant?

At our company, we pride ourselves on providing high-performance fish meal production equipment that is customized to suit the unique needs of our clients. Our experience in the industry has made us a trusted partner for fish meal plant solutions worldwide. Here are some key advantages of choosing us:

Customized Solutions: We design and manufacture fish meal plants according to your production capacity and operational needs.

High Efficiency: Our equipment maximizes yield and minimizes waste, ensuring cost-effective production.

Energy-Saving Design: Our fish meal dryers and other machinery are optimized for energy efficiency, reducing operational costs.

Comprehensive Support: We offer end-to-end support, from plant design and installation to after-sales service, ensuring smooth operations.

With our advanced fish meal processing equipment, you can be assured of efficient production, high-quality output, and seamless integration into your existing facility.

From raw material selection to final packaging, every step in the fish meal production process is crucial for producing a high-quality product. Our company is dedicated to providing complete fish meal production plants that streamline each stage of the process. Whether you're looking to upgrade your equipment or establish a new plant, our customized solutions are designed to meet your needs and ensure the success of your operation.