MARINE-DERIVED FATTY-ACIDS OR FISH OILS AS RAW-MATERIAL FOR FATTY-ACIDS MANUFACTURE

Fish oils, often an abundant source of C20 and C22 fatty acids, could supplement rapessed oil in the manufacture of long chain saturated fatty acids. Herring oil, traditionally the fish oil of choice, is in very short supply due to depletion of fishery stocks. Menhaden oil, when made from fish caught in the Atlantic, could furnish a steady supply with long chain acids at about the 30% level. Oil made from other species such as anchovy or pilchard need further data on fatty acid content and variability. Manufacture of polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oils is hampered by lack of suitable procedures. Potential markets for fish oil polyunsaturates especially in the pharmaceutical field seem promising. © 1979 The American Oil Chemists' Society.