Sustainability by omega-3 source

Anchovy + Sardine

The Peruvian anchovy fishery is the largest source of EPA and DHA omega-3 for the supplement industry, supplying more than half of the total market. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch recently gave the North Central region of this fishery (the area that supplies the majority of omega-3s for human use) its “green light” designation, specifying that “anchovy stocks are healthy and not subject to overfishing.” The rating also confirms that Peru’s anchovy fishery management is transparent and responsive, with low environmental impact. Additionally, many of the largest producers of omega-3s from Peruvian anchovy are certified sustainable by Friend of the Sea.

Some supplements may offer a blend of anchovy and sardine oils. Sardine oils are most often sourced from Moroccan waters or the Black Sea. Many omega-3 companies in Morocco are certified as Friend of the Sea.

Menhaden

Menhaden oils come from a key US source. Used primarily as an ingredient in pet nutrition products, menhaden oil is harvested and produced from two United States fisheries (in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico) that are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Salmon + Pollock

Oils derived from byproducts of wild Alaskan salmon and pollock also come from US-based sources. Both are used in both human and pet supplements and are sourced from MSC-certified fisheries. The Alaskan state constitution also mandates that all natural resources, including salmon and pollock, are used and maintained on a "sustained yield" basis, allowing them to replenish and sustain themselves over time.

Krill

Krill oil is a popular source of EPA+DHA omega-3s derived from microcrustaceans. The Antarctic krill oil fishery has received high ratings from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership for several consecutive years and is also MSC-certified. Most Antarctic krill are caught and turned into ingredient oils onboard fishing vessels or in facilities located mainly in Norway.

Tuna

Tuna oil is a smaller category of omega-3s whose higher DHA content suits its most popular application, infant formula. These oils are sourced primarily from skipjack and yellowfin tuna byproducts — not endangered or threatened species like bluefin or bigeye.

Cod liver

Cod liver oil, now a smaller category after its debut as the original modern omega-3 product, is made from the livers of different species caught by cod fleets. MSC- or Friend of the Sea-certified omega-3s oils from Alaskan or Arctic cod livers are commonly available.

Microalgae

Specialty algae oils are also processed sustainably and have no impact on marine ecosystems. Algae with high concentrations of EPA and DHA are produced in manufacturing facilities via fermentation, photosynthetic bioreactors or cultivation in open ponds. Several large algae facilities are located on non-arable land, preventing competition with food crops for arable farmland.  

Specialty seed oils

On a related note, canola and camelina that have been genetically modified to express EPA and DHA in their seeds can be responsibly grown using sustainable practices within existing, scalable agricultural infrastructure. These crops also provide habitat for many species of beneficial insects.

Herring Roe

Fish roe/eggs is another category that humans have been eating worldwide for centuries or longer. A company in Norway uses phospholipid herring roe oils caught from the MSC-certified Norwegian Spring-Spawning fishery to create supplements.

Calanus

A newcomer to the omega-3 industry, the calanus oil category is another sustainable source of EPA+DHA. Calanus finmarchicus is a tiny Arctic zooplankton with an extremely high annual reproduction rate, with 290 million tons of new calanus born each year. The annual maximum Calanus harvest allowance is 0.08% of the 290 million tons.