Algal oil and high omega-3 in feed for Arctic salmon

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

Barriers for development and value creation in arctic salmon farming are predominately health challenges at low temperatures and periodically high proportion of downgrading of salmon to lower priced products due to insufficient slaughter quality. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are essential components of a healthy, balanced diet for Atlantic salmon. These fatty acids are important for cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory properties, organ development. We have also documented positive effects on fillet quality, i.e. less dark melanin spots and improved fillet color. Fish oil and meal from fisheries are the main sources of EPA and DHA in salmon diets, but has limited availability and this has resulted in substantial substitution of marine oils with plant oil. Few alternatives to replace EPA and DHA from fish oil are commercially relevant, however, in recent years large scale fermentation is used for production of non-GMO heterotrophic microalgae to produce EPA/DHA oils. for We have obeserved positive effects on fish welfare and fillet quality using salmon diets with DHA rich microalgae in small scale trials (whole Schyzochytrium limacinum biomass). There is evidence that challenging environmental conditions, such as low temperatures, increase the demand for EPA/DHA. The required level of EPA/DHA in diets for salmon in arctic aquaculture has not been determined, and experimental results might not be transferable to salmon farming in Finnmark. Our hypothesis is that challenging environmental conditions in Finnmark with long periods with low temperatures increases the requirement for EPA and DHA in the feed for good production efficiency, fish welfare and fillet quality. The main objective of this project is to study if Arctic salmon performance, health and fillet quality can be improved by increasing the level of dietary marine omega-3 (EPA, DHA) by supplementing the feeds with added levels of fish oil and inclusion of algae oil.