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, which are more easily absorbed than intact collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are water-soluble and mix readily into liquids.
Our marine collagen powder is sourced from Norway, made from fish skin only, and contains pure Type I hydrolyzed collagen with no fillers, flavourings or sweeteners. 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; halal-certifiable | Not suitable for pescatarians or vegetarians |
| By-product sourcing | Fish skin/bones from seafood industry | Hide from cattle industry |
Norwegian origin
Norway has some of the most stringent aquaculture and fishing regulations in the world. Norwegian fish collagen is a by-product of the well-regulated Norwegian seafood industry, with strong traceability from catch or farm to finished ingredient. We source our marine collagen powder exclusively from Norway for this reason.
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.
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 are unflavoured, additive-free and made in-house at our SALSA-accredited facility in Leicestershire.
