In 2020, a group of government inspectors in Goa, India, visited United Marine Products, a factory accused by local residents of polluting the air and water with toxic wastewater. The factory produces fish meal, a protein powder for farmed fish, by cooking and grinding wild-caught fish. The inspectors found that the factory had drilled illegal boreholes to dispose of wastewater, contaminating groundwater and causing illnesses among villagers and livestock.
The plant owner denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation revealed a connection to Canadian seafood consumption. Despite the distance, the factory supplied Skretting, a major feed producer for Canadian fish farms, potentially affecting the salmon and trout available in Canadian stores.
The Outlaw Ocean Project’s five-year investigation highlighted hidden costs in fish feed production, such as job losses, chemical exposure, worker fatalities, and protests due to foul odors from fish meal factories. These impacts disproportionately affect developing countries where feed ingredients are sourced.
Canada’s seafood industry heavily relies on fish farms powered by fish meal and fish oil. While efforts to reduce fish meal dependence are ongoing, the industry still faces sustainability challenges, including overfishing and social issues tied to fish meal production worldwide.
The investigation also exposed problems in Canadian fish meal plants and their supply chains, shedding light on pollution, unsustainable practices, and tragedies like worker fatalities. The responsibility for addressing these issues lies not only with the industry but also with consumers and regulatory bodies ensuring ethical sourcing practices.