Algae Could Replace Fish Oil as Pet Food Omega-3 Crisis Deepens

The pet food industry is facing growing challenges in sourcing omega-3 fatty acids due to overfishing and rising costs. At Petco 2026 in Nuremberg, Julian Pietrzyk, Ph.D., from MiAlgae Ltd., will highlight the differences between omega-3 forms and their impact on pet health. His session will also explore sustainable alternatives, such as algae-based DHA, as traditional fish oil supplies dwindle.

Over the past three years, fish oil prices for pet food have surged by 20–40%, climbing from around $2,000 per tonne in 2023 to over $2,800 in 2025. This increase stems from reduced catches of wild anchovy and sardine populations, which have dropped by 15–25% due to stricter overfishing quotas. Climate change has further disrupted fish stocks, with El Niño warming Pacific waters and altering migration patterns. Stricter regulations, like the 2024 Marine Stewardship Council updates, now require over 90% of sourced fish to meet sustainability standards.

Pietrzyk's talk, 'Perceptions, sources and the evolving role of long-chain omega-3s in pet nutrition,' will address these supply issues. He will explain why understanding EPA, DHA, and ALA matters for pet food quality. Unlike EPA and DHA—biologically active forms that directly support inflammation control, skin health, joint mobility, cognition, and heart function—ALA must first convert to EPA and DHA, a process that is inefficient in dogs and cats.

Algae is emerging as a practical solution. MiAlgae, for instance, produces algae-derived DHA with guaranteed high concentrations, using whisky by-products for sustainable cultivation. Pietrzyk expects the industry to shift toward such alternatives as traditional fish oil becomes less reliable.

Petfinder 2026, co-located with Interzoo in Nuremberg, will feature Pietrzyk's insights on sustainable omega-3 sourcing. Registration is now open, with early savings available. The event comes at a critical time, as the pet food sector seeks stable, high-quality omega-3 sources amid ongoing supply and regulatory pressures.