Australia’s aquaculture industry looks beyond fishmeal to improve sustainability

Bottom trawling associated with the feed product depletes oceans more than wild-catch fishing, expert says

• Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
• Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community

Australia’s growing aquaculture industry is trying to end its reliance on fishmeal in order to become more sustainable.

Fish farms have traditionally been reliant on fishmeal, a feed made from small fish such as anchovies which is often fished unsustainably in developing countries. The practice has jeopardised the industry’s environmental credentials, says Ian Urbania, a pulitzer prize-winning journalist and founder of the non-profit journalism organisation The Outlaw Ocean Project.

Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter

Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter

Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community