June 13, 2022 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

New figures released today suggest that US consumers are increasingly supporting the health of the ocean when deciding which fish and krill oil supplements to buy, according to new data shared by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the international non-profit responsible for the world’s most widely used sustainable seafood ecolabel.

Figures highlighted by the MSC show that the number of fish oil supplements carrying the MSC blue fish label has grown by 44% in the US during the last five years, from 132 to 191. In the last year alone, consumers bought more than 8.5 million bottles and packets of MSC-certified fish oil supplements in the US. For products to carry the MSC blue fish label, every company in the supply chain must have a valid MSC Chain of Custody certificate and each product must be reviewed and approved

According to GOED, the Global Organization of EPA and DHA Omega-3s, a trade group that includes companies all along the supplement channel, from fisheries to finished products, the 2021 US EPA and DHA omega-3 supplement market reached $1.35 billion in value. GOED also projects the US omega-3 supplement market to grow by 3.8% by 2023[1]. Many EPA and DHA omega-3 fisheries are MSC-certified, are pursuing MSC certification, or are covered by specialized national or regional monitoring bodies.

Krill continues to be the most popular species used in MSC-certified sustainable omega 3 supplements, such as Epion Brands’ Kori Pure Antarctic Krill Oil offering MSC certified krill oil supplements. Other newly launched supplements are helping to diversify the range of sustainable products on the market. Examples include Natural Force Pure Omega-3 liquid, which sources its fish oil from the MSC-certified Menhaden fishery[2], and Garden of Life’s Dr Formulated Prenatal Multi and DHA, the first MSC-certified supplement for pregnant women. Pet owners can also opt for MSC-certified fish oils for pets, including Dr Mercola’s Krill oil for cats and dogs, Mud Bay Salmon and Pollock Oil and Vital Pet Life Salmon oil.

Fish oil can be obtained from two sources: 1) small pelagics — small fish such as herring, sardine, and menhaden[3] — can be processed into fish oil, and 2) trimmings or by-products of a species caught for human consumption, such as the liver, heads, and fins of pollock, cod or salmon. The latter process helps reduce waste by ensuring the whole fish is used.

Trimmings from MSC-certified salmon fisheries in Alaska, for instance, are used to produce Steward Supplements and Vital Choice salmon fish oils. While the skin of MSC-certified North Atlantic cod is used to make Dr Mercola’s Marine Collagen pills.

The demand for fish oils, set to grow by 6% by 2026, will increase pressure on fish stocks, especially small pelagic fish stocks, 46% of which are already currently overfished[4]. Ensuring these stocks are managed sustainably is imperative. The growth in the number of consumers choosing fish oil produced from  sustainable fisheries[5] is helping to turn the tide, in-part, by driving a rapid growth in the number of MSC-certified small pelagic and reduction fisheries[6]. In 2022, landings from small pelagic species engaged in the MSC program totalled over 4.2 million tons, representing around 15% of small pelagic landings worldwide, up from 8% of small pelagic landings in 2016.

“Small pelagic fisheries, those that are often used to produce fish oils, play a critical role in the marine ecosystem,” said Erika Feller, regional director, Americas at the Marine Stewardship Council. “Small pelagic species, such as krill, sardine and menhaden are at the base of marine food chains because they are also food for many other marine species. Overfishing these species could have a significant negative impact on delicate marine ecosystems, which is why it’s so important for consumers to choose sustainable fish oil products produced from MSC-certified fisheries. MSC certified fisheries take an extremely cautious approach in setting catch limits for low trophic species — or species low in the marine food chain that play a key role in the ecosystem such as small pelagics — harvesting fish at a more conservative rate compared to other species. This ensures stocks remain abundant and helps to protect seafood supplies and the ocean ecosystem.”

Chris Gearheart, director of growth and engagement at GOED, said “GOED is proud of our member companies’ commitment to the sustainable use of marine resources and public health. MSC certification is an excellent path for companies who source omega-3s from the ocean and want to improve fisheries management.”

The increasing demand for fish oil for human consumption has had a dramatic impact on the growth of MSC-certified fish oil products globally. In 2008, only four MSC-labelled fish oil supplements were available worldwide. This has grown to more than 500 MSC labelled products in 2021. Globally more than 20.5 million bottles or packets of MSC-certified sustainably sourced fish oils were bought by consumers — up by 75% or nearly 12 million bottles and packets just three years ago.

“We can all can contribute to a healthier planet by buying fish oil products with the MSC blue fish label, and now is an important time as ever to make choosing more sustainable options even easier for consumers,” continued Feller.