7 B u s i n e s s p l a n | F i s h m e a l a n d f i s h o i l p r o d u c t i o n Product descr ipt ion P R ODU C T D E S C R I P T I ON Fishmeal is a brown powder (see Figure 4) obtained after cooking, press drying and squeezing fresh raw fish. It is produced mainly from small pelagic species. Pelagic species are ocean fish that live in the upper sea levels. Most pelagic species are considerably fattier than other fish species. Historically, landings of fish have been around 90 million tons p.a. and about 1/4 of this has been converted into fishmeal and fish oil. Fishmeal contains typically 60 to 72 per cent protein, 10 to 20 per cent ash, 5 to 12 per cent fat and has a high content of the fatty acids, more commonly referred to as omega-3. Fishmeal in its basic form has been produced for centuries and usage has varied from production of fertilizers to salmon feed. Nowadays, fishmeal is used primarily in feed production. Fish oil can be used directly in a purified form (nutraceuticals) in a wide range of foods. Production of fish oil in the future is not expected to change. Oilier fish are expected to be processed for direct human use, thus reducing that available for fishmeal and fish oil production Fishmeal and fish oil production has become a very thriving industry as both fishmeal and fish oil prices have raised. Figure 4. Fishmeal
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