Raw material information
Tuna oil is an important part of the Omega-3 story because,
unlike other marine oils, its level of 22:6n-3 (DHA) is about
4-5 times its level of 20:5n-3 (EPA). Tuna and bonito are
caught in all the oceans of the world. These landings
have been increasing since 1950 and reached 5 million
metric tons in 2002. Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and
Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) account for about 66% of
the Tuna landings, while 18 other minor species represent the
remaining 34% (FAO, 2006b). Over 160 countries are engaged
in the catching of Tuna; however, 16 countries the other 24%.
The two largest producers, Japan and Indonesia, together
only account for about 26% of the catch (FAO, 2006c).
The raw material used for the production of Tuna oil come from
the by products of the Tuna canning industry. In most cases, only
the loins of the fish are used for canning.
Generally, the dark meat, viscera, heads and frames
are used in the production of Tuna fishmeal and Tuna oil.
The companies that produce the highest-quality Tuna oil
separate the heads from the remaining waste stream
and process them separately. The heads yield the highest
ratio of DHA to EPA and a better-quality oil. The oil
recovered from the other waste is either used in animal feeds
or burned in the plant boilers as a fuel oil.