Preliminary trials and analyses of omega-3-rich oil from genetically modified rape seed indicate that it is safe to use in salmon feed. Nofima is currently testing omega-3 Canola, a rapeseed oil rich in the marine fatty acid DHA.

Nofima has performed feed trials on salmon in fresh water and in seawater facilities on land, where increasing amounts of omega-3 Canola were added to the feed. A parallel trial has been carried out on fry in warmer water in Australia, to test the omega-3 sources at different growth rates. This is important to detect any effects that occur with rapid growth in early life.

The salmon given feed containing omega-3 Canola were analyzed for growth, composition and health, and found to have the same fillet omega-3 levels as salmon fed with fish oil. Gene expression analyses showed that effects depended on the amount of oil, not the type of oil. “Thorough analyses of these results have not shown any differences in health and growth between fish fed the two oils,” stated Bente Ruyter, project manager at Nofima.

NIFES has analyzed the omega-3 Canola oil, from the Australian company Nuseed, and did not find any DNA traces of genetically modified rape seed. The oil is extracted from rape plants that have been genetically modified to produce DHA.

Trials have also been performed with salmon growing from 0.5 to 1.2 kg in tanks on land in Sunndalsora. The fish were given feed with increasing levels of omega-3 Canola, the results of which are currently being analyzed.

“The results will be published in open journals,” stated Ruyter. “Whether this oil is cleared for use in feed depends on government regulations. Then it is up to the industry to decide whether to use the new feed sources. Knowledge from this project will provide a basis for these decisions.”

The project is financed by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) and is in collaboration with NIFES from Norway and CSIRO from Australia.