The breadth and complexity of the EPA+DHA supply chain

The omega-3 ingredient industry is truly global. Regions in Peru, and some in Morocco, provide most of the raw materials (crude fish oil) for omega-3 production. The United States has fisheries supplying salmon and menhaden, Norway and the European Union provide cod liver, herring roe and calanus, while krill oil comes from raw material harvested sustainably off the coast of Antarctica. Japan and China also offer omega-3 oils. Vegan EPA+DHA raw materials from algae are manufactured on several continents.

In many cases, these EPA and DHA ingredient oils are:

1. Created using byproducts from dozens of well-managed fisheries,

2. Produced in factories on land using algae without affecting marine ecosystems, or

3. Pressed from bioengineered canola or other oilseeds

Many of these omega-3 industry fisheries have MSC, Friend of the Sea, Seafood Watch or other sustainability certifications or are strictly managed by national or regional authorities. Certifications like MarinTrust cover many omega-3 production sites that comply with strict transparency and quality management standards.