FEFAC asked its members via a questionnaire which are the environmental, animal health and animal welfare challenges where advanced animal feeding strategies can play a role of importance. Fish farming has an additional set of species-specific pressure points. In relation to fish feed, a continuous challenge has been to reduce any reliance on wild fish stocks for fish meal and fish oil use. Alternative feeding sources exist to ensure more sustainable sourcing, which also helps to address reliance on imports. As fish farming typically takes place in open water, there is a need to address any water pollution occurring as a result of the farming activities.

Maintaining good gut health is important for farmed fish to avoid diseases and improve their growth and nutrient utilization. Several factors can affect gut health in farmed fish, including water quality, feed quality and composition, and pathogen exposure. For example, poor water quality can lead to an imbalance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while inadequate or unbalanced feed can result in poor digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition to these factors, stress and overcrowding can also contribute to gut health problems in farmed fish. Therefore, it is important for fish farmers to maintain optimal water conditions and use high-quality feeds with proper nutrition to promote good gut health and prevent disease outbreaks.