In today’s aquaculture, increasingly focused on efficiency, resilience, and the responsible use of resources, land animal by-products, known as LAPs, have established themselves as an effective option aligned with the principles of the circular economy. Ingredients such as feather meal and poultry meal, present for years in BioMar’s formulations in the Western Mediterranean, provide high nutritional value and help reduce environmental impact without compromising productive performance.
These ingredients come from animals already part of the human food chain. Although not intended for direct consumption, they contain easily digestible proteins and an ideal amino acid profile for the nutrition of various aquatic species. Through safe and well-controlled processes, they become functional raw materials that allow for more efficient diets, tailored to the real needs of our sector.
Including LAPs in the formulation of aquaculture feed answers a more circular way of understanding production. By recovering nutrients that would otherwise be lost, these ingredients help make better use of resources and reduce waste generation. In addition, as coproducts, their carbon footprint is considerably lower compared to other protein sources, such as marine ingredients or certain crops intended for human consumption.
Furthermore, their inclusion helps reduce pressure on marine resources such as fish meal and fish oil, which are increasingly limited in many ecosystems. It also decreases competition for plant-based raw materials, freeing up resources such as farmland, water, and fertilizers that can be devoted to other essential uses, resulting in more sustainable practices. Additionally, the use of terrestrial animal by-products represents an economically viable alternative to traditional raw materials used in fish feed, especially in contexts where raw material markets are highly volatile.
In the Mediterranean region, the use of animal meals has been delivering good results for years. In species such as gilthead sea bream, sea bass, or trout, it has been proven that they provide good nutritional value without compromising performance or fish health, even in contexts of uncertainty in global raw material markets. This adaptability has been fundamental to keeping production going and providing stability to the aquaculture supply chain.
Currently, these ingredients are used under strict regulatory frameworks and with well-established traceability systems, ensuring their quality and safety. Their role in animal nutrition is no longer new or experimental; they are now fully integrated into the sector’s reality and actively contribute to building more balanced, responsible, and resource-efficient production models.
In a food system that must move towards more circular and inclusive models, LAPs represent a tangible, proven solution with great potential. More than just an alternative, they are a good example of how changing the way we understand waste can open the door to new opportunities to build the aquaculture of tomorrow.