March 29, 2016
Norwegian firm offers alternative fishmeal-free salmon feed
Skretting, a leading manufacturer of aquaculture feeds and a Nutreco company, has made a breakthrough with its formulation of a salmon feed that is completely fishmeal-free while delivering equal performance in terms of fish growth and health.
"Through our research, we have detailed evidence proving salmonids can be fed with feeds that are devoid of fishmeal. This is very important knowledge that we will utilise to give us even more flexibility with regards to the composition of our commercial feeds," said Dr. Leo Nankervis, team leader of Salmonid Nutrition at Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC), which is based in Stavanger, Norway.
Sissel Susort, Skretting''s global product manager for Grower Feeds, pointed out that although Skretting now has the knowledge and capability to produce fishmeal-free feeds, it does not mean that fishmeal will be eliminated from Skretting products.
"The fact that we can do it is the key point. We will work with our customers when and if they decide to use fishmeal-free feed. The value of this knowledge will increase if fishmeal availability decreases in the future", she said.
Not discarding use of fishmeal
Trygve Berg Lea, Skretting sustainability manager, stressed that Skretting would continue to use some fishmeal in its products "if it benefits the nutritional composition of the feed, is economic, and the source of fishmeal is responsibly managed fisheries or the valuable use of by-products from seafood processing".
He pointed out that fishmeal is a natural and well-balanced source of high-quality protein. "As an ingredient in aquaculture feed, fishmeal carries large quantities of energy per unit weight and is an excellent source of protein, lipids (oils), minerals and vitamins".
Berg Lea explained that the processing of seafood for human consumption "generates vast amounts of by-products such as trimmings, fins, frames, heads, shells, skin and viscera which can be converted and utilised as valuable products for aquaculture. The utilisation of by-products is essential because it eliminates waste by increasing efficiency through value addition".
Alex Obach, managing director of Skretting ARC, said the research facility is eyeing to formulate similar feeds, which it calls MicroBalance, for other species that are currently more dependent on fishmeal, such as shrimp, sea bass, turbot and other marine fish. "We are on a mission. Becoming independent of fishmeal gives us the opportunity to explore alternative and novel raw materials that perhaps are not even considered in the spectrum of possibilities today", he said.