A project assessing the use of microalgae byproducts from the biofuel industry as a protein replacement in feeds for farmed salmon is gaining momentum, according to Yangyang Gong, a researcher at Nord University.

In a recent interview, he explained how byproducts from the biofuel industry – the defatted biomass of Nannochloropsis and Desmodesmus species of algae – can be an suitable alternative ingredient to the fishmeal currently used in aquafeeds.

\"To improve the sustainability of the salmon industry, we must reduce its dependence on marine ingredients, but alternative ingredients derived from plants are known to affect growth and cause health problems in salmon – including dose-dependent growth inhibition and intestinal enteritis. Furthermore, the plant oils in aquafeeds influence the quality of the product, as they contain less of the long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA than fishmeal and fish oil. Microbe-derived ingredients such as those from microalgae, which have high nutritional value and a relatively low impact on the environment, are promising alternative sources of these fatty acids.\"

Source: The Fish Site // Original Article