Marine Collagen: What It Is, Where It Comes From and How to Use It
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Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body — the primary building block of skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and connective tissue. The body produces collagen naturally, though production changes with age. Marine collagen is collagen extracted from fish, specifically from the skin and bones that are by-products of the seafood industry.
What is marine collagen?
Marine collagen is almost entirely Type I collagen, the most abundant type in the human body and the primary structural component of skin, bones and tendons. It is extracted from fish tissue through a hydrolysis process — essentially breaking the large collagen protein chains into smaller fragments called peptides. These peptides are commonly said to be more easily absorbed than intact collagen, though this is a general point of scientific interest rather than a claim we make about any specific outcome. Hydrolysed collagen peptides are water-soluble and mix readily into liquids.
Our marine collagen powder is sourced from Norway, made from fish skin only — not bone or scale — and contains pure Type I hydrolysed collagen with no fillers, flavourings or sweeteners. The peptides average approximately 3kDa in molecular weight. Our marine collagen capsules contain the same ingredient in a plant-based HPMC shell. Both sit within our organic supplements range.
Marine vs bovine collagen
The two most common sources of collagen supplements are marine (fish) and bovine (cattle).
| Property | Marine (fish) | Bovine (cattle) |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen type | Primarily Type I | Type I and Type III |
| Peptide size | Smaller — said to be absorbed more readily | Larger peptide chains |
| Suitable for | Pescatarians; suitable for halal and kosher diets | Not suitable for pescatarians or vegetarians |
| By-product sourcing | Fish skin/bones from seafood industry | Hide from cattle industry |
Wild-caught, MSC certified and fully traceable
Our marine collagen is produced in Norway from MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified, wild-caught fish — cod, haddock, saithe, Pacific cod and Alaska pollock — from FAO fishing areas 21, 27, 61 and 67 in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is not farmed. MSC certification means the fishery has been independently audited for sustainable stock management and full traceability from sea to finished ingredient — it's the most credible sustainability standard available for wild-caught marine ingredients, and it applies to every batch we use.
Norway's fisheries management is among the most stringent in the world, giving strong chain-of-custody traceability from catch to finished ingredient. We source our marine collagen exclusively from Norway for this reason. The ingredient is also GMO-free and is suitable for halal, kosher and diabetic diets.
How to use marine collagen powder
Marine collagen powder is unflavoured and dissolves cleanly in hot or cold liquids. The most common use is mixing a scoop (typically 5–10g) into coffee, tea or a smoothie. It does not have a strong taste and does not noticeably alter the flavour of most drinks. It can also be stirred into soups or sauces without affecting flavour or texture at normal serving sizes. As with any supplement, do not exceed the recommended daily serving stated on the pack.
For a blended drink option, our Calm Collagen and Cacao drink combines marine collagen with organic cacao and other ingredients in a ready-to-mix format. The capsule format is the practical option for anyone who wants a precise daily amount without measuring powder.
Both formats use the same Norwegian, MSC certified marine collagen, produced in Norway and then packed (powder) or encapsulated (capsules) in-house at our SALSA-accredited facility in Leicestershire. Both are unflavoured and additive-free.
