The prospects for marketing meatmeal for inclusion in Indonesian aquaculture diets

Summary

Australia typically produces around 450,000 tonnes of meatmeal per annum. The most reliable" estimate" of global aquafeed production is probably of 4.25 million tonnes in 1994 with projections of up to 7.5 million tonnes by 2000. Around 25% of
compounded aquafeeds are consumed by prawns at around US$l,OOO per tonne and 40% by carnivorous type finfish at around US$500 per tonne.

Compounded feeds for carnivorous finfish and prawns contain from 50 to 70% by weight of fishery product (fishmeals and fish oils) according to Williams et al (Appendix 1). 

World production of fishmeal in 1993 was 6.26 million tonnes and has been at best static since 1989 on account of the limitations of capture fishery capacity. It is I estimated that in 1995 prawn and salmonids dierts alone accounted for 697,000 tonnes. Since only 30% of fishmeal production is available for export, continued expansion of aquaculture will require alternative protein sources (Williams - Appendix 1). 

The pressure on fishmeal supplies is reflected in current world fishmeal prices tha t have seen fishmeal prices rise from $960 to $1300 per tonne following the shortfall in production in Peru arising from El Nino effects (Smith - Appendix 2) . 5) A price of A$1300 per tonne for 70% protein fishmeal is equivalent to i\$1860 per tonne for its protein. By contrast a price of A$450 per tonne for 50% protein meatmeal is equivalent to A$900 per tonne for its protein.

So, with the price of meatmeal protein at 50% that of fishmeal global compounded aquafeed forecast to reach 7.5m tonnes by 2000;

• Australian aquaculture research showing that meatmeal can replace 50% of fishmeal in prawn diets that normally contain 60% fishmeal
• 100% of the fishmeal in Barramundi diets and 60% of the fishmeal in silver perch diets (Williams et al Appendix 1. Smith Appendix 2
• the good amino acid profile of meatmeal is excellent in content of minerals, unsaturated fats and cholesterol and gelatine
• The prospects for its use in aquafeeds are excellent