Challenge for the industry – can aquafeed go fish-free?

The challenge is the latest in a series set to help aquaculture move onto a more sustainable footing. It is designed, F3 says, “…to enhance feed supply chain resilience, by encouraging the use of new, innovative alternatives that will future-proof fish farming operations.”

The aim is to eliminate all wild-caught marine animal ingredients, including fish meal, fish oil and krill, from aquafeed.

Cash prizes will be awarded to four top-performing farms that sell the most carnivorous finfish raised on marine-animal–free feeds in one of two contest tracks:

• A two-year contest that rewards farms already producing and selling carnivorous finfish on feeds free of marine-animal ingredients.
• A four-year contest that rewards farms embarking on new feed and farming innovations and those raising slower-growing finfish species.

The challenge is open to farms producing carnivorous finfish on marine-animal–free feeds. The prize money will be awarded to the registered farm, which may team up with feed companies, ingredient suppliers, or other partners. To qualify, farmers must use marine-animal–free diets beginning no later than the fingerling stage, though they may start earlier.

Registration for both contest tracks opened on 16 September, 2025. Full contest rules are available at: www.f3challenge.org

F3 judge Kevin Fitzsimmons, professor at the University of Arizona, said: “By incentivizing farms to innovate, the F3 Fish Farm Challenge reduces pressure on wild fish stocks while building a more resilient and sustainable farmed seafood system for the future.

“Amid growing supply chain uncertainties, this contest offers an opportunity to future-proof farm operations by developing strong, sustainable feed contingency plans.”