World marine by-product market stood at USD 33,725.4 million in 2023. Revenues from marine by-products went up by 10.5% year-on-year in 2024 and the world market would thus stand at USD 37,303.1 million in 2025. Sales abroad are to grow at a 5.6% CAGR between 2025 and 2035 and stand at USD 64,325.7 million by 2035.
Marine by-product markets are fueled by strong demand for green food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic ingredient business. Fish meal and fish oil are the most valuable by-products containing omega-3 fatty acids, which are also popular for its health benefits such as cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory, and enhanced brain function. These advantages have fueled higher uses of marine by-products for functional foods and dietary supplements business.
Other than that, increasing awareness of the need to source the sea products in a sustainable manner is compelling the companies to come up with new ways of making use of the entire fish and other marine life as a way of minimizing wastage and coming up with circular economy concepts. This is compelling the use of the sea by-products to other non-foods such as cosmetics, animal feed, and fertilizers.
Increased utilization of marine by-products can also be observed from their expanding utilization in various industries. Fish meal, for example, is used as an animal and fish oil high quality protein source used in the pet food industry, cosmetics, and even biofuel feedstock. Increased utilization is likely to drive further market growth during the next two years.
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Global Marine By-products Industry Size (2025E) | USD 37,303.1 Million |
| Projected Global Marine By-products Industry Value (2035F) | USD 64,325.7 Million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.6% |
Nutritive value of marine by-products, and, of course, fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are the most prevalent demand drivers on the nutrition supplements market. As consumers are increasingly concerned about their health, they are resorting to marine by-products as the natural and effective way to wellness.
The protein content of fish meal is also driving its use as an ingredient in animal feeds, and particularly so easily in aquaculture and pet food uses. Sustainability is also a priority in the marine by-products business. With food consumption of seafood still on the rise, thought is now also being given to the fact that by-products themselves have to be made in a responsible way so that their environmental impact can be minimized.
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Following table indicates comparative analysis of difference of difference of base year 2024 CAGR and current year 2025 CAGR of global marine by-products market. Segmentation of this type indicates significant differences in performance and indicates direction towards realization of revenue, thereby giving stakeholders better insight from the perspective of the growth trend of the year. First half-year, i.e., H1 is Jan to June. Second half-year, H2 is July to Dec.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 (2024 to 2034) | 5.3% |
| H2 (2024 to 2034) | 5.4% |
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 5.5% |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 5.6% |
The company will be increasing at a rate of 5.5% as a CAGR in the first half (H1) of the period 2025 to 2035 and the company will have an increase of 5.6% as a higher rate in the second half (H2) of the period 2025 to 2035. And then comes the subsequent time period, H1 2025 to H2 2035, and the first half CAGR will be 5.5% and extremely high at 5.6% for the second half. The sector grew 20 BPS in the first half (H1), and the firm saw another growth of 10 BPS in the second half (H2).
The sea by-products market is set to expand with aquaculture growth, consumer awareness of health, and technology for processing enhancements. Long-term intervention and policy measures must be initiated in an attempt to render this market sustainable.
Multinational Firms: Multinational firms are world leaders in the international marine by-products sector with high-tech extraction, diversified product offerings, and global supply chains. They focus on research and development, ethical sourcing, and utilitarian applications of marine by-products. Omega Protein Corporation (USA), Omega Protein is one of the largest producers of fish meal and fish oil as a top global market in sustainably sourced marine ingredients used for human, animal, and aqua feeds nutrition.
Omega possesses state-of-the-art facilities with the best refines plants in addition to a vast global network distribution. Royal DSM (Netherlands), DSM is one of the leading companies in the omega-3 industry with higher fish- and algae-source marine-derived nutrition ingredients. DSM is a functional food application, pharma, and nutritional supplement company.
Regional Leaders: These businesses are region leaders, serving regional industries like aquaculture, nutraceuticals, and bio-products. These businesses focus on efficient waste recovery and sustainable marine sourcing. Bioceval (Germany), one of the best known fish by-product processors in Europe, Bioceval manufactures fish meal, fish oil, and hydrolysed proteins.
Bioceval is a high-quality manufacturer of marine ingredients to be utilized for feed, petfood, and oleochemical. Scanbio Marine Group (Norway), Scanbio has an activity focus that includes Nordic seafood industry by-products processing and production of protein concentrates and omega fish oils. Scanbio is exporting to North America and European aquafeed and livestock feed market.
Chinese Dominant Players: China is among the top producers of marine by-products via bulk volume production firms, export value chains, and low-cost processing. They supply food, pharmaceutical, and animal feed industries.
Shandong Hengxing Ocean Biotechnology (China), as one of the largest manufacturers of fish collagen peptides, chitosan, and sea-derived bioactive materials, Hengxing Ocean deals with high-purity sea-derived materials for health and cosmetics. Zhoushan Putuo Ruibang Marine Products (China): Processing fish oil, fish meal, and marine protein hydrolysates, Ruibang Marine sells China's aquaculture and animal feed markets, with increasing export to Southeast Asia
Rise in Consumer Demand for Sustainable Seafood Ingredients
Shift: Sustainability is growing to become an influential force compelling consumer action, and move towards ocean by-products that are sustainable and create minimal waste. Over 65% of consumers across the globe that consume seafood consume sustainably harvested products, as the 2024 Global Sustainable Seafood Report illustrates.
Since over 35% of the global fishery resources are lost each year, consumers are increasingly concerned about the cost the environment is paying for missing sea resources, and companies are being compelled to think outside the box. The shift is best described in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, where naturally occurring substitutes for man-made sea products are increasingly being requested.
Strategic Response: To address the demand for sustainable ingredients, early pioneers like Sea6 Energy and Oceanium upcycle ocean waste to active ingredients. Sea6 technology upcycles discarded seaweed from production as food ingredients and bio-stimulants instead of using synthetic fertilizers.
Likewise, Oceanium was a seaweed-based pioneer in compostable packaging material to replace plastic and as sustainable brands like Unilever and Nestlé are calling for. In the beauty industry, as with Seppic and Lush, marine ingredients are emerging in skincare. Seppic's Aquaxyl is a moisturizer derived from seaweed, and Lush Sea Spray hair spray contains sea salt to create volume and texture.
Greater Use of Fish By-products as Animal Feed and Pet Food
Shift: With growing focus on sustainability globally, the pet food industry is focusing on alternative proteins like fish meal and other seafood by-products. Over 40% of global pet owners seek sustainable and protein-rich sources now, a study in 2024 by Euromonitor has found.
Fish meal, a fish by-product made up of viscera, bones, and scales, is a nutrient-rich, high-protein ingredient that has the ability to serve as an alternative to traditional meat-based pet food. Environmental awareness and risk of overfishing are prompting pet food manufacturers to look more seriously at the use of marine by-products as a renewable alternative source of protein for use in their products.
Strategic Response: With this trend came into effect, major pet food companies such as Mars Petcare and Nestlé Purina incorporated sustainably caught fish meal, krill oil, and sea collagen peptides in their products. Mars Petcare released a new product line in 2024 consisting of responsibly sourced menhaden and sardine oils to provide omega-3 fatty acids, which enhance pets' shiny healthy coat and skin.
At the same time, Nestlé Purina's Beyond Simply line launched wild-caught cod meal-formulated pet food, growing USA and Canada sales by 18% as pet owners increasingly opt for traceable, high-protein sources. New entrants like Because Animals started working on lab-cultured fish protein to use in pet food, reducing dependence on ocean-fished fish and addressing sustainability concerns.
Greater Utilization of Sustainable and Upcycled Seafood By-Products By-Change
Shift: As environmental awareness keeps increasing, consumers and companies are increasingly looking towards upcycled and sustainable food sources as a step towards reducing food loss and driving circular economy.
Up to 35% of the fish and seafood landed globally is wasted, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and much of it is made up of high-value by-products such as fish skin, bones, and viscera. Even there are people who are becoming more conscious of what they do and with whom, and 78% of global consumers prefer businesses that care about going green, a Nielsen survey in 2024 stated.
Strategic Response: Industry stakeholders have turned fish waste into valuable products to prevent wastage and keep resources conserved. Icelandic start-up firm Feel Iceland has commenced producing fish skin marine collagen powder for its environmentally friendly beauty label and was going green with sustainability as a main priority with the brand recording 15% boosted sales in 2023.
Nestlé Purina and The Honest Kitchen utilized fish by-product proteins in pet food. Not only does it reduce wastage of food but also supplies healthy nutrients like omega-3s and amino acids to pet owners' health-food-like pet foods high in protein and sustainable ingredients.
Regulation Fortification for Sustainable Sea By-Product Procurement
Shift: With growing alarm at loss of marine diversity and overfishing, governments and global regulators are putting ever greater pressure on the level of seafood industry sustainability. The European Union 2024 Blue Economy Report also reports that more than 50% of global fish stocks are overexploited and 30% overfished. These control systems like Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification and Seafood Watch of Monterey Bay Aquarium have expanded greatly, with customers shelling out massive premiums to buy food that is certified to be ethical in source.
Strategic Response: Thus, big seafood processors and sea ingredient companies like Dongwon Group, Thai Union, and Marel adopted blockchain traceability solutions for tracing fish sourcing as a way of ensuring an open supply chain. Thai Union launched a blockchain-traced seafood tracing system in 2024 that enables consumers to scan packaging on seafood products to ensure the sourcing process was sustainable.
Whole Foods and Tesco also joined the bandwagon with sustainably caught seafood and fish certified. Cargill and DSM have also invested in cultured fish alternatives as a step towards minimizing the utilization of wild-caught fish as a step towards avoiding overfishing as well as depleting marine biodiversity.
Expansion Of Marine-Based Functional Beverages
Shift: Functional drinks are going through a trend as consumers seek drinks that not only satiate their thirst but are healthy as well. Ingredients like sea collagen peptides, omega-3 fatty oils, and seaweed extracts are finding their way due to the understanding that such marine ingredients have skin-friendly, gut-friendly, and immunity-friendly contents. As per Innova Market Insights (2024), se-sourced beverage market has witnessed year-over-year 9.4% growth in terms of growing awareness on clean-label functional beverages, beauty-from-within and gut health.
Strategic Response: Leading players hit back with functional beverages brewed on the ocean. Dose & Co and Vital Proteins launched seawater-brewed collagen water, fish collagen hydrolyzed and fruit extract that gained a 25% year-on-year sales increase. Recess and Remedy Drinks also launched seaweed-infused prebiotic soft drinks on the tail of gut health drink and clean-label trends.
In the beauty industry, firms like L'Oréal and The Beauty Chef also moved ahead with their ingestible skincare business with the introduction of marine collagen in liquid-based elixirs. Vida Glow beauty also hit store shelves with a 30% retail sales boost during 2024 as millennial and Gen Z consumers moved toward the convenience of ingestion from functional wellness products.
The following table shows the estimated growth rates of the top five territories expected to exhibit high consumption of marine by-products through 2035.
| Countries | CAGR, 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|
| USA | 6.3% |
| Germany | 5.8% |
| China | 4.9% |
| Japan | 4.2% |
| India | 7.4% |
Consumer awareness about sustainable seafood processing and circular economy practices has spurred the growth of the USA marine by-products market. Cod Liver Oil extracted from fish virtually forms the basis of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and premium pet nutrition along with marine by-products like Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides, Fish Oil and Fish Meal.
The continual expansion of the aquafeed industry and the bioactive marine ingredients markets are prompting the need for marine by-products that are rich in protein and omega.
Germany’s marine by-products market is experiencing steady growth due to the stringent EU regulation on sustainability and traceability of marine product sourcing. The interest on marine-sourced collage, chitin, and omega-3 oils in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and health supplement industries has been increasing.
German manufacturers are investing in focussing more on marine biotechnology and alternative protein solutions, supported by growing government incentives aiding in reducing waste in the seafood industry.
The progress is somewhat expected, as China's marine by-products market is expanding rapidly, owing to the country's leadership position in areas such as aquaculture, seafood processing and traditional medicine. Local manufacturers ramping up their investments in fish protein hydrolysates, marine enzymes, and shell-derived calcium supplements, aided by government-backed initiatives that encourage sustainable fishery practices.
Health-conscious consumers are clamoring on this issue; moreover, in the nutrition- and pharmaceutical-related industries, demands for marine peptides and omega-3 glycerine-rich extracts are also increasing.
Japan also has long history of using every part of resources from the sea, leading to the widespread adoption of its marine by-products market. Kinako interpolated sentences: "In cosmetics, functional foods, and nutraceuticals, Japanese consumers prefer marine-derived collagen, fish protein extracts, and fermented seafood derivatives.
At the same time, Japan's research in bioprocessing and marine biotechnology is also stepping up to develop bioactive marine substances for anti-aging and gut health solutions.
The marine by-products market in India is growing as the government has introduced steps and practices to promote the by-products of seafood waste utilization, sustainable farming of fish, and value-added marine processing. Indian manufacturers are upping production with the growth in demand for both cost-effective aquafeed, organic fertilizers and marine protein supplement.
The country is emerging as a strong player in marine-derived nutraceuticals and sustainable aquaculture solutions, especially with startup-based innovation in seafood waste recycling and chitosan extraction.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Marine Proteins & Fish Meal (By Type) | 65.4% |
Marine protein and fish meal segment is approximated to continue to be the largest source of protein for the aquaculture sector with a value share of 65.4% in 2025 owing to its greater demand in aquafeed, livestock feed, and pet nutrition markets. "Because fish meal is rich in essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioavailable protein, the extensive use of fish meal greatly increases rates of growth as well as overall poultry, aquaculture, and pet use health."
With consumers more and more looking for sustainable sources of protein, food producers are looking to fish protein hydrolysates, fish meal concentrates and marine-derived amino acids. These innovative formulations enhance the absorption of nutrients and enable optimal animal health.
As demand for clean-label and non-GMO animal feed continues to grow, businesses are manufacturing high digestibility fish protein formulations for premium feed uses. Additionally, byproduct utilization and circular economy practices are promoting the greater utilization of sustainable, traceable and responsibly sourced marine proteins, helping to support the market in global animal nutrition.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Nutraceuticals, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics (By Application) | 34.6% |
Higher demand for collagen peptides, omega-3 supplements and marine-based products for anti-aging will contribute to a 34.6% value share of the nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industry in 2025. Natural marine products like fish collagen and marine elastin, along with seaweed extracts, are widely used in functional foods, dermatological care and joint health formulations due to scientifically proven human health claims related to skin, joint and inflammatory conditions.
The growing importance of marine biotech and bioactive compound research has also fueled market demand, leading to new applications in personalized nutrition and therapeutic skincare. With research results progressively defining the place of marine bioactives in intestinal health, inflammatory modulation, and cardioprotective effects, it is likely that the demand for marine derived pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products will grow.
With interest in marine ingredients of sustainably sourced origins continuing to take off and manufacturers responding with eco-friendly extraction methods and traceable sourcing to meet clean-label and ethical production needs, innovation and expansion in this high-value category is translating to more growth.
Key marine by-products players are focused on sustainable marine utilization, sustainable marine by-products processing systems etc. Interest in fermentation-based extraction of marine protein, enzymatic hydrolysis, and functional ingredients development drives companies.
The industry is propelled by several key players, such as TripleNine Group, Pelagia AS, FMC Corporation, BioMar, and GC Rieber Oils, which specialize in the extraction of fishmeal and oils, as well as the methodical processing of marine collagen. A number of companies are ramping up their production facilities in the Asia-Pacific and European regions to meet the demand for sustainable marine ingredients.
Partnerships with nutraceutical brands, investment in biorefinery technologies, and development of fortified marine protein powders are among the key strategies. Manufacturers are also focusing on carbon-neutral marine processing and environmentally sustainable extraction methods.
For instance:
The global marine by-products industry is projected to reach USD 37,303.1 million in 2025.
Key players include Copeinca; Pelagia AS; Colpex International; GC Rieber Oils; KD Pharma Group; FF Skagen; Austevoll Seafood ASA.
Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate due to high demand for aquafeed, marine-derived nutraceuticals, and bio-based pharmaceuticals.
The industry is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2025 to 2035.
Key drivers include rising demand for sustainable aquafeed, increasing use in functional foods and nutraceuticals, and advancements in bioactive marine ingredient extraction.
The market includes frozen seafood, fish oil, and fish meal products.
Frozen seafood consists of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other seafood varieties.
Fish oil includes salmon oil, tuna oil, cod liver oil, sardine oil, squalene oil, krill oil, anchovy oil, menhaden oil, and other fish-derived oils.
Fish meal is derived from various sources, including mollusks, eels, marine fish, trout, catfish, milkfish, salmon, swordfish, tilapia, tuna, cyprinids, crustaceans, and other fish species.
The market serves multiple industries, including the food service industry, food processing industry, cosmetics, dietary supplements, food and beverages, feed production, and retail/household consumption.
The market is segmented as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Central Asia, Russia and Belarus, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Middle East and Africa.
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Marine By-products Market
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