Ocean fish is a great source of Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, as well as a diverse protein source. This ingredient is typically added to the diet as “ocean fish meal” (I.E. ground-up and dried), and manufacturer’s will often lead with this ingredient on a label.

But, what is it, exactly?

When fishing in the open seas, fisherman catch all sorts of fish. Some are valuable: such as salmon, halibut, and rainbow trout. Though, most fish are not the bread-winning, highly profitable varieties of fish. 

Once the valuable fish have been sorted, the leftover fish are called “ocean fish” or  white fish”. Fishermen sell “ocean fish” as a package to the market, and some of that fish ends up in pet food.

This collection of fish is considered a grouped ingredient (we have an entire article on grouped ingredients, here) called ocean fish or white fish – which means that ocean fish is a variety of fish wrapped into a single ingredient. If your dog has sensitivities to “ocean fish”, there is no way to tell what exact fish is causing the problem.

While fish meal is found in a variety of diets, including high end diets, it lacks the specificity that we strive for at the Academy. We want ingredients that can be traced back to the source, we want to know exactly what is in our diets. “Fish” isn’t specific enough.

That being said, ocean fish is found in a huge amount of diets (try walking ten feet in a pet retail store without coming across it!). The ingredient is well tolerated by majority of pets, and often will result in a net gain to the diet as a whole.

Overall it is a wonderful ingredient that should not be avoided. Though, if you want to take your pet food to the next level, look for ingredients that have more specificity.

At Dog Food Academy, we value learning and would love your valuable input. If you have ideas that you wish to contribute to this article, please contact us.