# European Salmon Producers Shift to Poultry-Based Feed Amid Rising Costs Major salmon farms adopt chicken byproducts to replace expensive, scarce traditional fishmeal supplies. - **Source:** [Science & tech Articles | Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.com?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490) - **Published:** 2026-10-16 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/0774ef7f-c601-41cc-8f4b-1d39cc5edb48 ## Industry Shift to Poultry Major salmon producers, including Leroy Seafood Group and Mowi, are transitioning to poultry-derived feed at their offshore farms. This shift involves using chicken bones, livers, and brains to replace traditional fishmeal. Companies like SalMar have already begun testing these alternative pellets to maintain production levels amid significant industry-wide supply chain challenges. ## Economic Drivers of Change The primary motivation for this transition is the doubling of traditional fishmeal prices over the last two years. Poultry-based feed costs approximately half the price per tonne compared to fish-based alternatives. With global climate changes and resource scarcity, producers are scrambling to find cost-effective, high-protein solutions to sustain their large-scale operations. ## Safety and Regulatory Context Feeding salmon poultry products was illegal until 2013 due to concerns regarding Mad Cow Disease. Regulations were relaxed after evidence confirmed chicken does not carry bovine prions. Experts now classify these byproducts as high-quality, safe protein sources that are free from antinutritional factors, mirroring the nutritional profile of traditional fishmeal. ## Transparency and Consumer Perception Manufacturers are currently not required to disclose the specific ingredients used in animal feed to consumers. Research from Nofima indicates that while the practice is safe, consumers in the UK and France often view poultry-fed fish as unnatural. This creates a significant transparency gap regarding what actually constitutes the salmon's diet. ## Supermarket Policy Divergence UK supermarkets maintain varying stances on the issue. Marks & Spencer explicitly prohibits the use of land animal proteins in their salmon feed. Conversely, other major retailers like Tesco and Asda have not provided clear public policies regarding third-party brands, leaving the presence of chicken-fed salmon in their stores currently uncertain. ## Sustainability and Circular Economy Proponents argue that utilizing chicken byproducts supports circular economy principles by repurposing waste. Traditional fishmeal production requires harvesting vast quantities of edible fish, which contributes to overfishing and stock depletion. Advocates believe that using poultry waste is a more sustainable long-term strategy for the aquaculture industry than relying on wild-caught fish. ## Global Industry Precedents The use of poultry-based feed is not an entirely new development in global aquaculture. Farmers in Chile and Canada have successfully utilized these methods for several years without significant safety issues. European producers are now adopting these established practices as a necessary response to the limited availability of traditional marine-based feed resources. ## Future Market Implications As major suppliers integrate poultry feed, the presence of these products in UK retail is expected to grow. While experts believe consumers will eventually accept the safety of these products, the industry faces a branding challenge. Future success depends on balancing cost-saving production methods with the need for transparent communication with shoppers. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16214319/Producers-feed-salmon-chicken-meat.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._