Algal Dha and Epa the Original Source of Omega 3
Fish do not make omega-3. This is the fact that rearranges the entire supplement conversation once you absorb it. Fish accumulate EPA and DHA by eating microalgae, the same way you accumulate calcium by drinking milk from a cow that ate grass. The cow did not invent calcium, the fish did not invent omega-3, and the algae did. Everything else in the supply chain is a middleman.
We built our product range on this principle: ULTANA Phytoplankton from Nannochloropsis for EPA, and Clean Omega DHA from Schizochytrium for DHA. Both come from the organisms that produce these fatty acids in the first place, without the detour through a fish.
How the Omega-3 Food Chain Actually Works
In the ocean, photosynthetic microalgae produce EPA and DHA as components of their cell membranes and lipid reserves. Small zooplankton eat the microalgae, small fish eat the zooplankton, and larger fish eat the smaller fish. At each step, EPA and DHA accumulate in the animal's tissues. By the time you reach a salmon or a mackerel, the omega-3 concentration is high enough to be nutritionally significant for humans.
But here is the catch: at each step, environmental contaminants also accumulate. Mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and microplastics bioconcentrate as they move up the food chain. A sardine has less mercury than a swordfish because the swordfish has eaten more accumulated biomass. Fish oil supplements address this with molecular distillation and purification, but the contamination enters the chain in the first place because wild fish live in contaminated water.
Going to the algal source sidesteps the entire accumulation pathway — what you get is the same EPA and DHA your body needs, without the oceanic contaminant history. Marine phytoplankton grown in sealed photobioreactors is not exposed to oceanic contaminants because it never enters the ocean. The molecules are identical. The delivery route is cleaner.
Which Algae Produce Which Omega-3
Not all microalgae produce the same fatty acids, and this is where the "algae omega-3" label gets sloppy.
Nannochloropsis gaditana is EPA-dominant. We chose this species because it channels a large proportion of its lipid production into EPA, the fatty acid most plant-based diets lack. It produces very little DHA. We covered the detail in our Nannochloropsis nutrition profile.
Schizochytrium is DHA-dominant: this is the species behind most commercial algae oil capsules, producing DHA abundantly but almost no EPA. It is grown through heterotrophic fermentation rather than photosynthesis.
The practical consequence: if you see "algae omega-3" on a product and it does not specify the species, you do not know whether you are getting EPA, DHA, or an uncertain mix of both. We think this matters enough that we specify the species on every product we make. We explained the EPA vs DHA distinction in detail elsewhere.
Why This Matters for Your Supplement Decision
If you are choosing an omega-3 supplement, the source question comes down to three things:
Do you need EPA, DHA, or both? The EFSA-authorised health claims are specific: heart function requires combined EPA+DHA, while brain function and vision require DHA specifically. Match the fatty acid to the claim you care about.
Does the source matter to you beyond nutrition? If sustainability, animal welfare, or contamination risk factor into your decision, the distinction between cultivation and extraction is relevant. We covered the fishery pressure and sustainability arguments honestly, including the limits of what any individual purchase achieves.
Are you getting enough per serving? The EFSA heart-function claim requires 250 mg combined EPA+DHA daily, so check the per-serving figure on your label rather than the marketing headline. We explained how in our label reading guide.
What our research found
The global ocean holds roughly 80 million metric tonnes of EPA and DHA in phytoplankton and zooplankton combined. About 90 per cent of that is lost through metabolic processes at each trophic level. By the time omega-3 reaches a large predatory fish, the vast majority has been consumed as energy rather than stored as fat. Fish oil captures what survived the journey. Algae oil goes to the source.
Commercial algal oil production is still small relative to fish oil but growing rapidly. Algae-derived EPA+DHA contributed roughly 12,000 tonnes in 2023 against over 160,000 tonnes from fisheries. The gap is narrowing as cultivation technology improves and demand from plant-based consumers increases.
The species pairing behind our two products came from reviewing the available lipid data. Nannochloropsis channels most of its lipid production into EPA: the species marine zooplankton eat first. Schizochytrium accumulates DHA through heterotrophic fermentation. We chose both after comparing species fatty acid profiles against the EFSA intake conditions, not based on what was cheapest to source.
Sources
- Ryckebosch E, Bruneel C, Muylaert K et al. Nutritional evaluation of microalgae oils rich in omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids as an alternative for fish oil. Food Chem. 2014;160:393-400. PubMed
- Arterburn LM, Oken HA, Hoffman JP et al. Bioequivalence of docosahexaenoic acid from different algal oils in capsules and in a DHA-fortified food. Lipids. 2007;42(11):1011-1024. PubMed
- EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific Opinion on EPA, DHA, DPA: cardiac function, blood pressure, triglycerides. EFSA Journal. 2010;8(10):1796. EFSA
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. Official Journal of the EU. L 136/1. EUR-Lex
Cara Hayes, MSc Nutrition and Dietetics (University of Sydney), writes all content in the Phytality Knowledge Centre. Read our editorial policy.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement.
Methodology and Disclosure
Phytality manufactures algae-derived EPA and DHA supplements. We have a direct commercial interest in algal omega-3 being preferred over fish oil. The food chain description reflects established marine ecology, and bioaccumulation of contaminants reflects published environmental toxicology. Species fatty acid profiles reflect published lipid analyses, and EFSA claims are from Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012.
Last reviewed: March 2026
