On May 26, 2026, Peru’s Ministry of Production issued a new fishing moratorium, extending the ban until 23:59 on June 10. The restricted fishing zone covers a vast sea area between 6°S and 14°S, within 30 nautical miles off the coastline. This has driven domestic fishmeal prices to a record high of over RMB 21,000 per metric ton, dealing a direct and massive cost blow to the feed sector, particularly aquaculture.
The Bureau of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recently released a statement: “Since the start of this year, Peru fishmeal prices have surged sharply. Some enterprises have resorted to ‘hidden quality degradation’ by substituting low-cost raw materials in feed formulas while continuing to sell feeds at premium prices. Inspections of finished largemouth bass feed in Huzhou revealed that around one-third of tested feeds contained less than half the fishmeal content of standard high-quality products. A small number of manufacturers even formulated largemouth bass feed with fishmeal levels equivalent to those of loach feed, which requires far lower protein input.
Fishmeal serves as the core nutritional source for carnivorous fish. Sharp reductions in fishmeal dosage or replacement with inferior protein sources trigger frequent fish diseases and raise risks of unauthorized veterinary drug use. In accordance with the special rectification campaign against indiscriminate drug use in aquaculture, authorities shall strengthen supervision over drug application throughout breeding cycles, guide farmers to purchase high-quality feed from formal manufacturers, mitigate risks of excessive drug use, and safeguard the quality and safety of aquatic products.”
Soaring raw material prices act as a touchstone that exposes two distinct mindsets prevailing across the industry: short-sighted profit-chasing cost-cutting, and long-term commitment to safeguarding the sector’s future through uncompromising product quality.
Feed accounts for 60% to 70% of total aquaculture expenditure, representing the single largest cost item. This makes farmers prone to the misconception of judging feeds solely by unit price. Yet true return on investment hinges not on the price tag printed on feed bags, but on final harvest outcomes. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) gap between premium and substandard feed can reach 0.2–0.3 or even wider. Even feeds that cost RMB 200–300 more per ton often translate to lower breeding costs per jin of harvested fish, not to mention intangible benefits including higher survival rates, uniform marketable sizes and robust fish health.
Fermented soybean meal, insect protein and bacterial protein are now partially adopted to cut fishmeal costs across the industry, yet high-grade fry feed and grow-out feed for carnivorous fish remain reliant on premium fishmeal.
Insufficient or low-quality fishmeal leads to stunted growth, undersized fish and reduced yields within identical breeding cycles. It also weakens fish immunity and triggers widespread diseases such as enteritis, hepatobiliary disorders, saprolegniasis and gill rot, pushing up veterinary drug expenses. Poor feed palatability generates excess residual feed, worsening water pollution and triggering oxygen depletion and cyanobacterial blooms. Fry survival rates also drop drastically, as larval fish are highly sensitive to amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids; inadequate fishmeal often causes mass fry mortality.
This risk is especially pronounced for carnivorous species including largemouth bass and mandarin fish. Significant cuts to fishmeal content or downgraded fishmeal quality drastically reduce feeding appetite, slow growth, spike incidence of body rot and enteritis, and result in uneven fish sizes.
Therefore, amid volatile market conditions, Tongwei firmly upholds its principle of “consistent stable quality with market-aligned pricing”.
Backed by robust strengths including large-scale direct raw material procurement and secured strategic supply chains, Tongwei rejects superficial cost-cutting measures out of respect for professional ethics. Losses stemming from mass fish deaths, disease outbreaks and unsellable aquatic products caused by defective feed can be dozens or even hundreds of times higher than minor feed cost savings. Tongwei fully recognizes this reality, and aims to set the industry benchmark for the lowest long-term comprehensive farming costs through its feed pricing strategy. Many veteran farmers using Tongwei feed have calculated their own profit-and-loss accounts, offering the most compelling proof of the value of “premium quality at fair prices”.