In 2020, government investigators in Goa, India, visited United Marine Products factory to probe its disposal of toxic wastewater. Local residents had long complained about the factory’s impact on air quality and water safety. The plant produces fish meal, a protein-rich powder for farmed fish feed, made by processing wild-caught fish.
Inspectors found the plant had illegally drilled bore holes to dump wastewater, contaminating groundwater and causing illness among villagers and livestock. The plant owner denied any wrongdoing. This factory in India supplied fish meal to Skretting, a major feed producer used by Canadian fish farms producing salmon and trout.
An investigation by The Outlaw Ocean Project revealed hidden costs in fish feed production, including job losses, chemical exposure, worker deaths, and protests due to foul odors from fish meal factories. These impacts disproportionately affect poorer countries where feed ingredients are sourced, contrasting with the consumption of luxury seafood in wealthier nations.
Aquaculture has become a $444-billion industry globally, with over half of seafood consumed originating from fish farms. Salmon, shrimp, trout, sea bass, and sea bream in Canada rely on fish meal made from wild fish, contributing to ocean depletion. The industry is gradually reducing fish meal dependence by incorporating alternative ingredients like insects, algae, and krill.
Despite efforts to improve sustainability, the demand for fish meal continues to rise. The investigation also highlighted environmental and social issues linked to fish meal production, such as overexploitation of fish stocks and labor abuses in various countries. Skretting and other companies are under scrutiny for sourcing from factories with unethical practices.