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Aquafeed manufacturers produce compound feeds formulated for farmed aquatic species — finfish (salmon, tilapia, catfish, carp, sea bass, sea bream), shrimp and other crustaceans. Aquafeeds differ from terrestrial-livestock feeds in nutrient profile (higher protein, often higher lipid, species-specific amino-acid balance), physical form (sinking pellet, floating extruded pellet, microparticulate larval diet), and water stability — the feed must hold together long enough for the animal to consume it without leaching nutrients or fouling the system.
Global aquafeed production was an estimated 52.97 million tonnes in 2024, down 1.1% from 53.57 million tonnes in 2023 — the second consecutive year of contraction (Alltech Agri-Food Outlook). China accounts for roughly 43% of global aquafeed output, with freshwater fish feed making up around 60% of Chinese production. By species, carp feed is the largest single segment globally at 23% of 2024 tonnage; shrimp feed is the fastest-growing segment, projected to expand at around 8.6% CAGR through 2030 (Mordor Intelligence). Europe is the regional outlier, posting 2.1% growth in 2024 — its fifth consecutive year of expansion — while Asia-Pacific contracted 1.7% on the back of disease pressure and weak market prices.
Marine ingredient supply remains the structural constraint. Global fishmeal availability for 2025 is forecast at around 5.6 million tonnes and fish oil at 1.2–1.3 million tonnes (IFFO), with most of that volume committed to aquafeed. Replacement protein and lipid sources — soy protein concentrate, single-cell protein, insect meal, algal oils — are scaling, but not at fishmeal's volume.
Match the feed to species, life stage and system. Larval, juvenile and grower stages each take separate diets; a salmon grow-out pellet is the wrong feed for an RAS smolt or an open-cage finishing diet. Confirm the mill formulates for your species, your culture system (pond, cage, RAS, biofloc) and the size range you're stocking.
Check fishmeal and fish oil sourcing if marine ingredient content matters to you. IFFO RS / MarinTrust certification covers the responsible-sourcing claim for fishmeal. For salmon and other marine species, ask the EPA/DHA content of the finished feed, the inclusion rate of fish oil, and the substitution profile.
Water stability and pellet form are functional, not cosmetic. Ask for water stability data at 30, 60 and 120 minutes for the pellet size and feed type you'll use. Sinking versus floating matters for feed observation and waste capture; for cage culture the wrong sink rate creates losses you'll only see at harvest.
Biosecurity and disease history matter. Aquafeed mills should be running independent salmonella and mycotoxin programmes, and shrimp feed mills in particular should have a documented EHP, WSSV and EMS prevention regime. Ask for batch certificates of analysis and any incidence record from the past 24 months.
Verify additive declarations. Probiotics, immunostimulants, organic acids and phytogenics are sold in aquafeed at a premium; ask for the inclusion rate by active compound (not by branded blend) and any in-vivo trial reference.