Our Waters, Our Mission: How Collaboration Across Fisheries, Aquaculture, and U.S. Soy Is Feeding the Future
Every November, World Fisheries Day reminds us that the health of our waters and the future of global food systems are deeply intertwined. This year, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) wants to celebrate by highlighting a shared mission across wild capture fisheries, aquaculture, and U.S. Soy: working together to nourish a growing world sustainably.
Feeding the World Is a Collaboration, Not a Competition
Wild and farmed seafood together provide approximately 15% of the world’s animal-sourced protein.[1] Both are essential to meeting rising global demand, supporting livelihoods, and protecting ecosystems. Yet, for too long, they’ve often been seen as competing industries.
Realistically, the future of seafood production depends on collaboration between the two. Responsible wild capture fisheries ensure balanced harvests and protect biodiversity.[2] Sustainable aquaculture expands production capacity, reduces pressure on wild stocks, and creates year-round access to nutritious protein.[3] Together, they form two halves of one complementary system.
Shared Responsibility for Sustainable Growth
As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food will also keep rising, and fisheries and aquaculture will play a critical role in meeting that need sustainably. Fisheries and aquaculture will play a central role in meeting that need without compromising the health of our planet’s most vital ecosystems.
By aligning goals, sharing research, and exchanging best practices, both sectors can help stabilize supply and ensure that seafood continues to be an animal protein source associated with lower carbon emissions.[4] Collaborative management models, such as ecosystem-based fisheries management, stock enhancement programs, and integrated aquaculture systems, demonstrate how shared stewardship strengthens the blue economy.
Innovation Through Partnership
U.S. Soy is an essential link in this collaboration, providing a reliable, sustainable source of high-quality protein for aquaculture feeds worldwide. Through decades of research and partnership, U.S. Soy has helped producers limit their dependence on fishmeal and fish oil coming from capture fisheries, reducing pressure on ocean resources without sacrificing animal performance.[5]
One example of this contribution is the In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS), a U.S. Soy–supported technology that allows fish farmers to increase yields while maintaining healthy pond ecosystems. IPRS improves water circulation and oxygenation, reduces waste accumulation, and supports precision feeding, making sure that every input, including soy-optimized feed, contributes directly to growth and sustainability.[6]
Beyond technology, we know that innovation also means transparency. Programs like the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) verify that soy used in aquaculture feed is produced under rigorous environmental standards, from soil health to water conservation. This assurance allows seafood producers to communicate their sustainability credentials confidently to global buyers and consumers.
Strengthening Global Food Security
Collaboration between fisheries, aquaculture, and soy is about equity and resilience. Together, these sectors support millions of jobs, from small-scale fishers to feed producers, processors, and exporters. They also supply essential nutrition to communities where other forms of animal protein are limited or unaffordable.[7]
When feed ingredients are responsibly sourced, production practices are science-based, and ecosystems are protected, the ripple effects reach far beyond the water. Stronger coastal economies, healthier marine environments, and more secure food systems all stem from partnerships that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gain.
USSEC’s Role in Advancing Collaboration
USSEC plays a unique role in uniting stakeholders across this global value chain. Through technical training, research, investments, and partnerships in more than 80 countries, USSEC supports farmers, feed manufacturers, and seafood producers in adopting efficient, sustainable practices.
USSEC’s efforts are guided by a simple principle: sustainable growth happens when land and sea work together. Whether helping local cooperatives improve feed formulations, advancing aquaculture education through the Soy Excellence Center program, or promoting verified Sustainable U.S. Soy in export markets, USSEC’s work strengthens every link in the chain.
A United Vision for the Future
As climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity challenge global food systems, unity across sectors is more important than ever. The collaboration between fisheries, aquaculture, and U.S. Soy proves that innovation and sustainability thrive through partnership, not competition.
This World Fisheries Day, USSEC celebrates the people behind that partnership: fishers maintaining responsible harvests, farmers cultivating sustainable soy, researchers pioneering new technologies, and communities building a more resilient food future.
The message is clear: feeding the world requires our waters, our mission, and our shared commitment to sustainability.
This article is funded in part by the Soy Checkoff.
[1] Zhou, S., Kolding, J., Garcia, S.M., et al. “Balanced harvest: concept, policies, evidence, and management implications.” Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-019-09568-w
[2] Zhou, S., Kolding, J., Garcia, S.M. et al. Balanced harvest: concept, policies, evidence, and management implications. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 29, 711–733 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-019-09568-w
[3] Boyd, C.E., McNevin, A.A. & Davis, R.P. The contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to the global protein supply. Food Sec. 14, 805–827 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01246-9
[4] Jones, A.R., Alleway, H.K., McAfee, D., Reis-Santos, P., Theuerkauf, S.J., & Jones, R.C. “Climate-Friendly Seafood: The Potential for Emissions Reduction and Carbon Capture in Marine Aquaculture.” BioScience, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab126
[5] Macusi, E.D., Cayacay, M.A., Borazon, E.Q., Sales, A.C., Habib, A., Fadli, N., & Santos, M.D. “Protein Fishmeal Replacement in Aquaculture: A Systematic Review and Implications on Growth and Adoption Viability.” Sustainability, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612500
[6] U.S. Soybean Export Council. IPRS Production Manual (2022). https://ussec.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USSEC_2022_IPRS_Manual_220120_Web.pdf
[7] Muringai, R.T., Mafongoya, P., Lottering, R.T., Mugandani, R., & Naidoo, D. “Unlocking the Potential of Fish to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Sustainability, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010318