Fish oils refineries have a long history of trying to make fish oils profitable. For many years they wrote about the potential fortunes that were washed away. In 1955, they wrote
Over 6 million pounds of potential fish oil were discarded as offal from Alaska salmon canneries this year. This loss of over a third of a million dollars in possible income from the oil alone
Many of the problems were logistical, and the fisheries started to think of fish oil as unique. This view was taken up by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The NOAA saw huge potential for controlling huge quantities of resources and thought this potential had to be exploited under the banner of conservation. They wrote
“The term ”conservation” as applied to a living resource, such as fish or shellfish, has an entirely different meaning from that applied to a nonliving resource such as minerals or oil. The latter are nonrenewable. Man must exploit them with reserve, recognizing that once used they cannot be restored. In contrast, failure to use a living resource is to waste it. If not utilized by man, fish eventually die of old age or other natural causes. They are continually being replaced by new individuals. As long as enough adult fish are left to perpetuate the species, the surplus can be harvested.”[1]
After some questionable studies showed the alleged benefits, received worldwide attention, the trend was set. This supplement is one of the most bought items on the market. From alliedmarketresearch.com we find the monetary potential of fish oils, and it is staggering
The global fish oil market size was valued at $1,905.77million in 2019, and is estimated to reach $ 2,844.12million by 2027 with a CAGR of 5.79% from 2021 to 2027.
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[1] Industrial fishery technology : a survey of methods for domestic harvesting, preservation, and processing of fish used for food and for industrial products. by Stansby, M. E. Publication date 1963 Topics Fishery technology, Fish as food, Fisheries — United States Publisher New York : Reinhold Collection biodiversity; MBLWHOI; blc; americana Digitizing sponsor MBLWHOI Library Contributor MBLWHOI Library Language English