The use of animal by-products as fish feed ingredients in the aquaculture industry: From economic, fiqh, and scientific perspectives

Abstract

The continuous increase in per capita fish consumption worldwide highlights the critical need for sustainable fish resources, and the aquaculture sector is capable of providing this assurance. This has been proven through the significant contribution of aquaculture to the global fish production over the past few decades. The rapid growth in production is largely supported by an increased reliance on artificial or formulated feeds, representing up to 80% of the total operational costs. Due to rising prices and the unsustainable nature of certain fish feed ingredients, such as fishmeal, fish oil, and soybean meal, many alternative ingredients are being used, including by-products of animals and animal waste, which have raised fiqh issues. Awareness of these matters is crucial for aquaculture entrepreneurs and fish food manufacturers if they wish to penetrate the halal market. This study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods, analyzing data from written sources such as books, journals, and relevant websites This paper describes the current status of aquafeed ingredients, highlighting the relevant fiqh laws. References to fatwas and current standards issued by Islamic countries and religious authorities are also presented, followed by proposed solutions to address these concerns.