Reducing fish oil in aquafeed starts with a nutritional question: how will the formulation deliver the DHA and EPA required by the target species?
Microalgal oil provides a way to diversify these nutrient sources. In particular, Schizochytrium is identified as a relevant source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the June 2026 report Replacing fish-based feed with algae-based feed in aquaculture, prepared for the European Commission. The report considers partial substitution a practical route for reducing dependence on wild-caught forage fish. [1, pp. 6-7]
For feed manufacturers and formulators, the opportunity is not simply to exchange one oil for another. It is to select a documented ingredient and assess its contribution to the complete diet.
What does Schizochytrium contribute to aquafeed?
The European report identifies Schizochytrium as a DHA source and describes its cultivation through heterotrophic production: it uses a carbon source, such as sugar or glycerol, rather than requiring light for growth. Commercial-scale production for oil extraction already exists. [1, pp. 7 and 24-25]
This makes it relevant to the diversification of omega-3 supply in aquaculture. However, the same report stresses that nutritional composition varies with the strain and cultivation conditions. An ingredient should therefore be evaluated against its own specification, not against a generic composition attributed to all Schizochytrium oils. [1, pp. 17-19]
What does the European report recommend?
One of the report’s recommendations is an initial target of at least 25% of total EPA+DHA coming from non-fish-derived ingredients. [1, pp. 22 and 34]
That distinction matters: the percentage refers to the contribution of these fatty acids, not to 25% of the total feed or a universal algal-oil inclusion rate. It is a recommendation in the report, not a dosage established for FDHA45.
The report also recognises practical constraints, including production capacity and cost. Its proposed approach combines algae with other appropriate ingredients, including sustainably sourced fish-processing by-products, rather than assuming that every formulation must immediately eliminate all fish-derived materials. [1, pp. 22 and 34]
Why fish-oil replacement is not a 1:1 calculation
The relevant comparison is the nutrient contribution, not just the weight of oil. The report explicitly explains that a 1% inclusion of algal oil does not necessarily provide the same EPA and DHA contribution as 1% fish oil. Nutritional requirements also differ between species and life stages. [1, pp. 14 and 22-23]
A DHA-rich oil should not automatically be treated as a complete EPA-and-DHA solution. For FDHA45, the technical data sheet specifies a minimum DHA content but does not declare an EPA specification. An EPA contribution should therefore not be assumed from the DHA value alone. [2, p. 2]
Our formulation approach starts with the target species, life stage, existing lipid sources and required fatty-acid profile. These define the questions to resolve before selecting an inclusion level: how much DHA is needed, what other ingredients contribute, and whether a complementary EPA source is required.
Performance, quality and sustainability: keep the evidence specific
Feed performance. The European report summarises evidence of algae-containing diets achieving feed conversion and growth rates comparable to conventional formulations. These findings support evaluating algae-based ingredients, but they are not product-specific performance data for FDHA45. [1, pp. 21 and 32]
Quality documentation. DHA content is only part of the specification. The FDHA45 technical data sheet also defines limits for acidity, peroxide value, anisidine value, moisture, impurities and selected contaminants. It distinguishes warranted specification limits from batch-specific analytical results, which are reported in the Certificate of Analysis (CoA). [2, p. 2]
Environmental impact. The report identifies reduced dependence on wild forage fish as a benefit of substitution, while noting that the environmental performance of algae-based feed depends on the production system and scale. This is not a basis for assigning the same carbon-footprint reduction to every algal oil. Product-specific environmental claims require product-specific evidence. [1, pp. 12 and 32-33]
FDHA45: a specified DHA source for animal nutrition
Cyanoterra’s FDHA45 is a crude oil obtained from Schizochytrium, specified as a feed material for animal nutrition. The technical data sheet declares the following selected values. [2, pp. 1-2]
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| DHA content | ≥45%* |
| Acid value | ≤3 mg KOH/g |
| Peroxide value | ≤5 meq/kg |
| Anisidine value | ≤10 |
*DHA is expressed on the triglyceride-equivalent basis stated in the technical data sheet. These are specification limits, not the analytical results of a particular batch.
The sheet also describes handling and supply under a feed safety management system aligned with GMP+ Feed Safety requirements. Its stated intended use is as a feed material, not a feed additive; classification under the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials remains under assessment and is to be confirmed according to the final use and labelling. [2, p. 1]
For an initial technical assessment, the next step is to review the complete specification against the requirements of the intended feed application.
Cyanoterra at Aquaculture Europe 2026
Cyanoterra will attend Aquaculture Europe 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 28 September to 1 October 2026. Microalgal DHA, fish-oil substitution and the technical requirements of aquafeed formulations will be among the topics we bring to our conversations with the sector. [3]
Request the FDHA45 technical data sheet
Evaluating Schizochytrium oil for DHA enrichment or partial fish-oil replacement? Request the FDHA45 technical data sheet to review the complete quality specifications, contaminant limits, storage conditions and packaging information.
Include your target species and intended feed application so our team can understand the context of your request.
Request the FDHA45 technical data sheet
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References
[1] Replacing fish-based feed with algae-based feed in aquaculture. Report prepared for the European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Publications Office of the European Union, June 2026. DOI: 10.2771/1078973. The report reflects the views of its authors. Access the publication.
[2] Cyanoterra Biotech, S.L. Schizochytrium oil technical data sheet: DHA crude oil +45%, product code FDHA45. Version 2, 4 September 2026. Available on request.
[3] European Aquaculture Society. Aquaculture Europe 2026. Official event information. View the event details.
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