The use of additives in salmon farming is a common practice to promote healthy growth, prevent disease, and improve the quality of the fish, with various substances being added to the feed to achieve this goal.

Antibiotics are one type of additive used in salmon feed to prevent disease and promote health.

In addition to antibiotics, other additives such as soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal are commonly used in aquaculture feeds containing fishmeal and fish oil.

Mealworms are also being used as a nutritional additive in salmon feed, providing a sustainable and resource-efficient alternative to traditional fishmeal.

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworms, can replace or supplement fishmeal in salmon feed, eliminating the need for wild-caught sources and reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture operations.

The use of feed-grade fish in aquaculture can damage ocean food chains and ecosystem stability, and efforts are being made to reduce its use, such as in China, where the goal is to cut its use by half for certain species.

Compound feed can help reduce the use of feed-grade fish and increase conversion ratios, generating more fish growth per unit of feed.

Alternative ingredients such as mesopelagic fish, algae, and farmed insects are being researched to meet the demand for aquaculture feeds.

The use of additives in salmon farming can have health concerns, with farmed salmon containing higher concentrations of PCBs than wild salmon, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Eating too much farmed salmon may cause cancer due to contamination, and men with high concentrations of PCBs are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as those with low concentrations.

Regulations and standards for additive use in salmon farming vary by country, with some countries having stricter regulations than others.

China has initiated a program to reduce the use of low-value 'feed-grade' fish in aquaculture feed, aiming to replace it with compound feed made from a mixture of animal- and plant-based ingredients.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, and they are being used in salmon farming to reduce the need for wild-caught sources.

The use of insect-based feed can improve the growth and health of salmon, with studies showing they reach maturity faster, eat less, and have lower mortality rates.

International standards and regulations for the use of additives in salmon aquaculture are being developed and implemented, with the aim of ensuring the safety and sustainability of the industry, and protecting human health and the environment.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has launched a project to update the Gulf technical regulations for additives allowed to be used in foodstuffs, including those used in salmon farming.

Norway regulates its seafood industry, including farmed and fished products, in an ecosystem-based manner, but does not provide specific information on additive use.

The Norwegian government has reported that 43,000 farmed salmon escaped from fish farms in 2020, which could be related to the use of additives in feed.

The use of additives in salmon farming can have implications for the safety and sustainability of the industry, with concerns around antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution.

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a method of fish farming that can reduce the need for additives by using multiple species that complement each other and mitigate against problems.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association has warned the federal government about the waning efficacy of SLICE, a pesticide used to control sea lice, and has called for the approval of new pesticide options.

The Canadian government has announced plans to phase out open-net salmon farms in British Columbia by 2025, which may impact the use of additives in salmon farming and lead to more sustainable practices.

The use of insect-based feed and other sustainable practices can help reduce the environmental impact of salmon farming and promote a more sustainable industry.

The development of vegetarian feeds, with no fishmeal or fish oil, is being explored as a potential solution for certain species, but is not yet widely viable.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with various factors to consider, including the type of additive, the purpose of its use, and the potential health and environmental impacts.

The use of additives in salmon farming is a common practice to promote healthy growth, prevent disease, and improve the quality of the fish, with various substances being added to the feed to achieve this goal.

Antibiotics are one type of additive used in salmon feed to prevent disease and promote health.

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Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture

With growing concerns about the environmental toll of single species fish farms, a research project has been looking at the feasibility of introducing a more sustainable and potentially more profitable method of fish farming, using three complementary species.

Much as native American people planted squash, maize and climbing beans together to benefit each other, (often called the "three sisters"), farming finned-fish, shellfish and seaweeds together could benefit each other and reduce any environmental effects of fish farming. Small scale integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), as the system is called, has traditionally been used at a small domestic scale in Asia, providing the farmer with more than one product to sell or use.

The feasibility study conducted by Bangor University and published in Ecological Modelling has identified the locations around the Atlantic coast which would be most suitable for IMTA, based on farming salmon, and Oarweed, a type of kelp seaweed commonly found in temperate Atlantic coasts. The research considered the natural distribution of the three species, whether suitable locations clashed with busy shipping lanes or marine protected areas and whether there was close access to sizeable ports in order to reach markets.

The western coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland; Lough Swilly in County Donegal, Ireland, and the western coast of Brittany, northwest France were found to be the best locations to further develop IMTA based aquaculture.

As Conchúr Hughes of Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences explained, "One of the problems with the type of single species aquaculture practiced in Europe is that excess food and feces can lead to deterioration of local ecology, while density can mean that aquaculture companies need to use antibiotics and other additives to maintain a healthy fish-stock.

"Mussels are filter feeders, they can be responsible for removing up to 54% of salmon waste materials from the , using it as energy to grow, while the oarweed removes soluble nutrients from the water column. Oarweed can then be farmed to use in a variety of products, from food supplements for human consumption or for fish farms, as a fertilizer or as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals.

"Each of these species complements the other and mitigates against problems."

IMTA-based aquaculture

Both salmon and mussels are important food sources in Europe, and while oarweed is not as yet, this is a sector that is expected to experience a rapid increase in demand in the coming years- and can provide an alternative sustainable source of fertilizer and other products.

Seaweed cultivation can also provide environmental benefits. The seaweed in the water acts as a buffer against as it approaches the shore, reducing the energy as it passes through the seaweed, much as trees act as a buffer against strong winds, which can help reduce erosion. It also elevates the pH and oxygenates the water.

More information: Conchúr Hughes et al, Habitat suitability modelling for an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system along Europe's Atlantic coast, Ecological Modelling (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110459

Provided by Bangor University

Citation: Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture (2023, September 27) retrieved 27 September 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-09-obsolescence-sustainability-aquaculture.html
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The pollution risks associated with antibiotics used in sea-farmed salmon.

In addition to antibiotics, other additives such as soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal are commonly used in aquaculture feeds containing fishmeal and fish oil.

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China Works to Get Wild-Caught Fish Out of its Aquaculture Feed

[By Zhang Chun]

A 2021 Chinese government initiative to stop aquaculture feed being made from only young or low-value fish and to instead start producing “compound feed” – mixed with ingredients harvested from the land – is opening up a greener future for the sector.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in a series of trials last year, the sole use of low-value “feed-grade” fish as aquaculture feed was reduced by 77 percent, and by as much as 94 percent in farming of largemouth bass. Experts say the switch to compound feed could see overall use of feed-grade fish slashed by half for farming of certain species.

What is compound feed?

Compound feed normally contains a mixture of animal- and plant-based ingredients, and added nutrients such as vitamins. For aquaculture feeds containing fishmeal and fish oil, common additives include soy proteins, wheat gluten and corn gluten meal.

Feed-grade fish are those in a catch that are small, low in commercial value, or unsuitable for human consumption. They are sent to be processed into fishmeal and fish oil, or fed directly to farmed fish. But a significant proportion of feed-grade fish consists of juveniles of commercially important species. Once caught they can no longer grow into adult fish and breed, or be caught and sold on the market. Their removal damages ocean food chains and ecosystem stability.

The last decade and more has seen increased calls for China to tackle the use of feed-grade fish in aquaculture, but the current round of trials is the first organised by the Ministry of Agriculture. It focuses on species such as the yellow croaker, Japanese sea bass and largemouth bass, which tend to be fed more feed-grade fish. While those species don’t account for much of China’s fed aquaculture output, they do require much more protein than others to put on the same amount of weight. Compound feed cuts down on the use of fish by substituting vegetable alternatives, and is cheaper.

In the long term, sustained reductions in the use of fishmeal and fish oil in feed will be necessary to protect wild fisheries.

Aquaculture driving feed-grade fish catch

Fishers never used to set out to catch feed-grade fish; it was bycatch, with no economic value. Then in the 1980s, global aquaculture took off. “There was a lot of need for fishmeal and oil,” Rashid Sumalia, a fisheries researcher at the University of British Columbia, told China Dialogue. People started going out “purposely to catch them at distance, because there was a market”, he added.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) 2020 global fisheries and aquaculture report, the use of fish for reduction to fishmeal and fish oil peaked in 1994 at 30 million tonnes, and stood at 18 million tonnes by 2018. Another 4 million tonnes were used elsewhere, including directly in feed for aquaculture, livestock and fur animals.

It wasn’t until the mid and late 1990s that aquaculture took off in China. The FAO’s 1998 fisheries and aquaculture report describes how rare it was for fish catches in Asia to go unused or be used as aquaculture feed. But in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, aquaculture has expanded rapidly and the region now accounts for almost 90 percent of global output. In China, output tripled between 1998 and 2020, to represent 60 percent of the global total.

Although many of the species farmed in China need little or no feed, fed fish and crustacean aquaculture accounts for half of output and requires millions of tonnes of feed-grade fish from Chinese waters alone. China does not currently have statistics on its feed-grade fish catch or use in fed aquaculture. One study calculated that in 2016 4.6 million tonnes of feed-grade fish were caught, 35 percent of the total recorded catch in China’s waters, and most was used directly as feed.

“The state is certainly aware of the problem,” said Fang Qing, China general manager for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, adding that the difficulty in banning some harmful types of fishing gear in China is due to the ongoing market for the feed-grade fish it brings in. Since 2018, China has put minimum size limits in place for 15 commercial fish species, and ruled that feed-grade fish catch would drop to below 20% by 2020. There is no data available indicating whether this target was met.

This it isn’t just a Chinese problem. According to a 2017 study by the University of British Columbia, many countries, including the US and Norway, use feed-grade fish directly as feed. But the practice increased significantly in Asia between the 1990s and 2010, with feed-grade fish coming to account for a high percentage of landed catches.

Replacing feed-grade fish

In early 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture announced it would work to make Chinese aquaculture more environmentally friendly, and proposed the use of compound feed instead of purely fish-based feed. In April 2021, several provinces started trials of compound feed as part of more concrete action plans.

Compound feed for aquaculture is usually a mix of fishmeal, fish oil, wheat flour, soybean meal, vegetable oil and other land-grown ingredients. The amount of fishmeal and fish oil needed depends on the type of fish to be fed, and its stage of growth. According to Fang Qing, carnivorous fish such as the yellow croaker need huge quantities of meat protein at certain stages in their growth, and the relationship between particular nutrients and the growth and physiology of the fish can be complex. Hence, producing appropriate compound feed involves a lot of research and development.

To quantify how efficiently a species is farmed, the aquaculture industry uses a ratio called Fish in:Fish out (FIFO). The closer the FIFO is to 1, the more fish meat is produced per unit of input; a score of 1 means an extra kilogram of fish used as feed results in an extra kilogram of fish to harvest.

A study published in 2020 shows a FIFO of almost 1 for salmon and trout, thanks to the use of compound feeds which require less fishmeal and fish oil. If only fish were used to feed those species, the FIFO figure would be similar to that of the yellow croaker – over 6, according to an upcoming paper co-authored by Zhang Wenbo, an assistant professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University. His research into conventional yellow croaker aquaculture in China found that the direct use of feed-grade fish is still the best option for the yellow croaker farmers. But Fang Qing told China Dialogue that a lot of feed-grade fish fed to yellow croaker goes uneaten, and ends up sinking to the seabed or rotting, causing pollution and increasing the risk of disease.

More compound feed use would help reduce FIFO numbers in two ways: by cutting use of feed-grade fish, and by increasing conversion ratios – that is, generating more fish growth per unit of feed.

Zhejiang is taking the lead in both those areas. Since 2016, the province has been shutting fishmeal factories during the closed season and restricting the percentage of feed-grade fish in the overall catch. This, combined with the use of compound feed, saw Zhejiang cut the use of feed-grade fish by 835,000 tonnes across 710,000 mu (474 square kilometres) of aquaculture farms during the 13th FYP period (2016-2020). “Previously, feed-grade fish were the primary feed for largemouth bass in Zhejiang. These last two years that’s almost all been replaced with compound feed.” The FIFO ratio for farmed largemouth bass in Zhejiang could come down to 1.5, half the national average for this species, according to 2016 calculations Zhang Wenbo contributed to.

But cutting back on feed-grade fish use in China won’t be easy. Fishers catch a wide range of fish with a wide range of gear. At the local level there is a lack of fisher associations that can impose rules on the sector, making management tricky. Zhejiang’s success can be ascribed to strong local regulations. “There are no successful [international] examples that China can apply,” said Fang Qing. Alongside legislation to bolster oversight of the feed-grade fish catch, he also suggests developing feeds which will be more palatable to fish, and labelling products according to their use of feed-grade fish or compound feed, so consumers can make an informed choice.

Increasing the efficiency of fish inputs

The use of compound feed isn’t the end of the story. At least for now, fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in those feeds. And while the global supply of fishmeal and fish oil has fallen from its peak in 2000 to a fairly stable level, the demand for aquaculture feeds has been increasing. That requires the development of feeds containing less meal and oil.

Plans announced by Norway to boost salmon farming have led to concerns about the supply of fishmeal and fish oil as well as vegetable ingredients. The country has started researching the use of mesopelagic fish (which inhabit the middle depths of the ocean), algae and farmed insects to meet that need and make feed more efficient. A more complete solution would be to develop entirely vegetarian feeds, with no fishmeal at all. However, as things stand that would only be suitable for a few species.

“Fishmeal is the most expensive of the ingredients found in bulk feeds. Reducing the amount in those feeds is the best way to make them cheaper,” Zhang Wenbo points out. A tonne of fishmeal costs around 10,000 yuan (US$1,500), compared to 1,000–4,000 yuan for bran or soybean meal, he added. “Feed conversion ratios are also affected by the type of aquaculture, the make-up of the feed, and genetic selection – the breeding of strains more suited to compound feeds,” he said. This is more difficult in China, with its wide range of farmed species, than in Norway, where salmon dominates. But progress is still being made, and associated targets have been set in the 14th Five Year Plan (2021–25).

Increasing the efficiency of fishmeal and fish oil use in China will also ease global pressures on the supply and help protect juvenile fish. China is the world’s biggest consumer of fishmeal, with the largest part being used in aquaculture, and the second largest being fed to pigs. But the country only produces 400,000–700,000 tonnes of fishmeal a year – not even close to meeting domestic demand. Fishmeal imports have held steady since 2017, at about 1.4 million tonnes, but jumped to 1.82 million tonnes in 2021, with experts ascribing the change to the recovery in pig farming. The extra fishmeal came from the Americas and elsewhere in Asia.

Zhang Wenbo explains that China’s fishmeal and fish oil imports come from forage fish, caught specifically to be turned into fishmeal, and Peru is the main supplier. Relatively little of China’s fishmeal is made from feed-grade fish. “Imports of by-product processed fishmeal from Vietnam and Thailand have been increasing in recent years,” he said.

Minimizing the feed-grade fish catch

Cutting back on the use of feed-grade fish is good for the sustainable development of both wild fishing and aquaculture. It will also help protect already vulnerable ocean ecosystems. In 1959, fishing vessels in China’s Bohai Sea caught 420 kg of fish per net for every hour they worked. By 1993, that had fallen to 30 kg, and only 8 kg between 1998 and 2011. The above-mentioned research into China’s feed-grade fish catch found that a long-term stable total catch has masked trends including falling biomass and changes in end use.

The losses to biodiversity and ecological services cannot be measured in financial terms, and the fishing industry needs more than simply output. Wang Songlin, president and founder of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, believes the industry needs to work towards a balance of ecological, economic and social benefits. He told China Dialogue that even if total catch may still be the same by volume, the underlying destruction to the integrity of ecosystems and the environment should not be ignored.

Management of the sector in China has acquired a new ecological focus. Alongside the use of compound feeds, some provinces are providing fishery stewardship subsidies for the protection of rare and endangered species and for keeping down feed-grade fish catch volumes.

Protecting juvenile fish isn’t just a matter for China – it’s crucial for ocean ecosystems around the world. Rashid Sumalia said: “If you look at the economies and the ecology at the higher level, you don’t want to [catch feed-grade fish] because the losses are too high” to be sustainable. Sumalia acknowledges that many people rely on that fishing for their livelihoods but says: “We need to take it down as far as we can.”

Zhang Chun is a senior researcher at China Dialogue. This article appears courtesy of China Dialogue Ocean and may be found in its original form here

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Mealworms are also being used as a nutritional additive in salmon feed, providing a sustainable and resource-efficient alternative to traditional fishmeal.

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Content: World’s Largest Insect Farm to Open in France

Once fully operational, the massive vertical farm will produce 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients a year.

Ÿnsect, one of the world’s largest insect rangers, is betting big on bugs to help push the world in a more sustainable direction.

Founded in 2011, the company is fast approaching its goal of opening the world’s largest insect farm and dramatically scaling up its operations. Located about an hour north of Paris, the state-of-the-art facility will leverage automated systems and vertical farming techniques to raise mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and enable the production of over 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients per year. The site, estimated to be completed by the end of 2022, will join two other Ÿnsect facilities already operational in France and the Netherlands.

"It’s an automated warehouse, very similar to an Amazon warehouse, where instead of storing stuff, we are storing live insects," Ÿnsect CEO and co-founder Antoine Hubert told Time last year. "There is a climate-control system which is highly complex to maintain temperature and moisture from zero to 30 meters high. All operations are automated. Anything that you do on [an insect] farm is done with robots."

Feed for Fish, Fertilizer for Plants, Burgers for Humans

For the past decade, mealworms cultivated at Ÿnsect’s farms have been turned into powders and oils that have become nutritional additives to pet and farm feeds. Thanks to a ruling last year by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) that deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, the company has also begun selling its powders for shakes, cereal bars, pasta, and even alt-meat burgers. In addition, the shed shells of the rapidly growing mealworms are collected and sold as beneficial organic fertilizers to farmers.

According to MealFlour, a project that promotes mealworm farming as a way to battle malnutrition in Guatemala, a serving of mealworm powder is 55% protein, contains all essential amino and fatty acids, and has more iron than sirloin beef. Compared to the production of milk, pork, chicken, and beef, mealworms are also more sustainable and require fewer resources and energy.

While its recent forays into human foodstuffs have garnered attention, Ÿnsect's focus presently remains on helping to feed sustainably the animals that feed the world. For instance, aquaculture, like salmon farming, is a resource-intensive operation that uses both land-based crops (soy) and massive amounts of wild-caught fish to create what's known as fishmeal. With food production projected to have to grow by more than 70% by 2050 to meet demand, the overfishing of oceans to feed aquaculture operations is not a feasible option. Studies, such as a recent trial by NOAA, have shown that supplementing or even replacing fishmeal with insect- and plant-based foods holds promise for eliminating the need for wild-caught sources. According to Hubert, there are other positives as well.

"They [salmon] were reaching the maturity stage faster and eating less so they were avoiding a large quantity of feed," he told Fast Company in 2020. "There was less mortality so the farmers get more fish eventually than before... This also explains why we have a carbon-negative balance, because we are avoiding so many quantities of inputs to feed fish to have the same quantities of fish."

Hubert added to Fast Company that Ÿnsect has contracts worth more than $100 million with fish feed producers. This past year, with the acquisition of U.S.-based mealworm producer Jord, it also began entering new markets, such as the rapidly growing U.S. backyard chicken feed market.

A Record-Breaking Vertical Farm

One look at the animated video of Ÿnsect’s new facility up above and you can see why it’s been touted as an automated marvel. Mealworms will be reared by robots in stacked tubs stretching several stories tall. Unlike other insect food alternatives such as flies or crickets, mealworms do not hop or fly, allowing the company to maximize the space available.

In an effort to make sure the creatures are ethically farmed, Hubert reached out to philosophers from the Sorbonne University to judge their welfare. As he told The Guardian, the students determined that the mealworms had "more in common with mushroom-growing and hothousing vegetables" than with livestock.

"They have no brain in the strict sense of the word," he said. "We know they have a reflex reaction and they communicate and build intelligent structures, but nobody has shown they feel anything. However, what is important is to respect them as living organisms, which we do."

In addition to the new farm in France, Ÿnsect plans to continue to scale its operations with additional facilities, including a major site in the U.S. The biggest hurdle ahead, however, says Hubert, is making insects a normal part of everyday diets.

"I believe that the big challenge is accepting insects as part of the human diet," he told Authority Magazine. "A large part of the world's population eats insects, but we must be able to prove its properties and its benefits for the environment in order to reach more and have more impact!"

View Article Sources
  1. "Ÿnsect Welcomes European Interministerial Delegation to Amiens." Ynsect.

  2. "Why Eat Mealworms?" MealFlour.

  3. "Edible Insects." Food and Agriculture Organization.

  4. van Dijk, Michiel, et al. "A Meta-Analysis of Projected Global Food Demand and Population At Risk of Hunger for the Period 2010–2050." Nature Food, vol. 2, no. 7, 2021, pp. 494-501., doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00322-9

  5. "The Future of Fish Feed May Lie in Insects, Mold, and Algae." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworms, can replace or supplement fishmeal in salmon feed, eliminating the need for wild-caught sources and reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture operations.

The use of feed-grade fish in aquaculture can damage ocean food chains and ecosystem stability, and efforts are being made to reduce its use, such as in China, where the goal is to cut its use by half for certain species.

What countries or jurisdictions have regulations concerning additives in salmon feed?

Compound feed can help reduce the use of feed-grade fish and increase conversion ratios, generating more fish growth per unit of feed.

Alternative ingredients such as mesopelagic fish, algae, and farmed insects are being researched to meet the demand for aquaculture feeds.

The use of additives in salmon farming can have health concerns, with farmed salmon containing higher concentrations of PCBs than wild salmon, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Title:

Content: Miscellaneous
Publish Date: December 13, 2021 8: 47 GMT
Updated on: December 13, 2021 9: 40 GMT
Study: Eating Too Much ‘ Farm Salmon ’ May Cause Cancer
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Newspaper noted.
+ A -A
Source: Erm News
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Express newspaper pointed out that "some previous studies found that salmon, jam in ponds, which is widely consumed around the world, doubles the risk of prostate cancer," pointing out that "salmon is a useful food source for health because it contains omega-3 fatty acids."
"While one salmon is caught in open water, like the seas, the other is bred in tight spaces (farms and ponds), which could have implications for human health," the paper said.
Studies have found that PCBs in farm-raised salmon were about 8 times higher than concentrations in wild salmon, adding that PCBs have been banned for commercial use for decades, but their effects can still be found in the environment, which may adversely affect human diet and therefore health.
According to a study by the Environmental Defense Fund, eating salmon raised in farm ponds on a regular basis may increase the risk of cancer after multiple cases of contamination have been detected in the United States and other countries.
"Medical scientific findings, published in the Journal of Medical Sciences, suggest that cheap farmed salmon sold in stores may do more harm than good."
“Risk analysis suggests that consumption of farmed Atlantic salmon may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption, ” the study said.
Eating farmed salmon more than once a month may be enough to increase the risk of cancer.
"In multivariate analyses, men with the highest concentrations of PCBs were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer than men with the lowest concentrations."
Download Erm News app on your phone

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

Eating too much farmed salmon may cause cancer due to contamination, and men with high concentrations of PCBs are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as those with low concentrations.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

Regulations and standards for additive use in salmon farming vary by country, with some countries having stricter regulations than others.

China has initiated a program to reduce the use of low-value 'feed-grade' fish in aquaculture feed, aiming to replace it with compound feed made from a mixture of animal- and plant-based ingredients.

What countries or jurisdictions have regulations concerning additives in salmon feed?

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, and they are being used in salmon farming to reduce the need for wild-caught sources.

The use of insect-based feed can improve the growth and health of salmon, with studies showing they reach maturity faster, eat less, and have lower mortality rates.

International standards and regulations for the use of additives in salmon aquaculture are being developed and implemented, with the aim of ensuring the safety and sustainability of the industry, and protecting human health and the environment.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has launched a project to update the Gulf technical regulations for additives allowed to be used in foodstuffs, including those used in salmon farming.

Norway regulates its seafood industry, including farmed and fished products, in an ecosystem-based manner, but does not provide specific information on additive use.

Title:

Content: • En
Eat salmon and mackerel without frying and peppery salt! The Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association partners with “LKK ” and“ Taste Good ” to create a new taste buds
(From left) Chef Lee Che-sung, Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association Southeast Asia Director Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, Carrefour Commodity Department Fresh Fish...
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association ’ s visit to Taiwan. In order to let more consumers enjoy the fresh seafood from Norway, the Association once again invited Li Chesong, a famous chef from Asia Pacific, to cooperate with Lee Kum Kee, a seasoning expert from East and West, to develop different seasoning packages for Norwegian salmon and mackerel. The experience is more diverse.
Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, Southeast Asia Director of the Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association, said that 95% of Norway ’ s seafood production is exported, and it is one of the world ’ s leading seafood producers and second largest exporters, so providing safe and sustainable food is a top priority for the Norwegian seafood industry.
Whether farmed or fished, Norwegian seafood is regulated in an ecosystem-based manner, says Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit.
And all processing plants must adhere to a food safety management system of hazard analysis and critical control points. Norway was one of the first countries in the world to introduce systems such as supply chain tracking and management of fish, which help ensure the industry remains sustainable and consumers can buy with peace of mind.
“Grilled mackerel and pine seed rice ” with honey grilled meat sauce. (Photo / Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association)
This year, the Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association invited Li Chesong to join hands with the 130-year-old Chinese sauces brand “LKK ” to launch“ Honey Grilled Meat Sauce ” to develop an amazing new flavor for Norwegian mackerel.
The Norwegian Salmon and Mackerel are rich in nutrients, delicate taste and easy to obtain ingredients. In the 2023 Norwegian Seafood Season, four dishes are designed to facilitate consumers to cook at home, including garlic powder steamed salmon, lemon citronella slices salmon, honey onion ginger mackerel pot and sauced mackerel pine rice, making the whole family ’ s dishes more colorful. There are changes, and consumers are welcome to visit the Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association ’ s social platform.
The 2023 Norwegian Seafood Season starts from June 1 to September 30. In cooperation with Carrefour and Mia C ’ bon, you can purchase Norwegian Salmon from the above channels from June 1 to July 31. You can get a delicious “Spicy Lemon Salt ” seasoning pack from August 1 to September 30. A limited number of" Honey Roast Meat Sauce "seasoning packs are available while stocks last.
Lemon pepper salt design dish “Garlic Fried Steamed Salmon ”. (Photo / Norwegian Seafood Promotion Association)
Updated: 2023-05-30 21: 10 GMT + 08: 00

The Norwegian government has reported that 43,000 farmed salmon escaped from fish farms in 2020, which could be related to the use of additives in feed.

Title:

Content: ‘It will be death knell for all Connemara rivers’: fish farm plan sparks concerns

Angling: Covid-19 regulations fail to dampen spirits at Annamoe Fishery event

Tipperary angler Pat Noonan (centre), winner of the post-Christmas outing at Annamoe Trout Fisheries, with six rainbow trout. On left, Stuart McGrane, organiser of the day and Brian Nally, proprietor

The report in Angling Notes in November last focused on alerting readers of the application by MOWI (formally Marine Harvest) for a proposed new 22-cage fish farm in Ballinakill Bay, Connemara. The Department of Marine has recently announced that the application is now being processed.

Numerous correspondence of grave concern have been sent to Minister for the Marine Charlie McConalogue and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan in relation to the proposed licence application.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has submitted its reasons for objecting to the licence as have Salmon Watch Ireland, Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages and many environmental groups and angling clubs throughout the country.

Commenting on behalf of the Drowes Fishery, Seamus O’Neill said: “If this licence is granted it will be the death knell for all of the Connemara rivers, especially the Kylemore river, which enters the sea at Ballinakill Bay. The decision by IFI to publish its submission in the new year is unusual and most welcome,” he said.

New scientific evidence of the detrimental effects fish farms are having on the environment is coming to light on a regular basis. In MOWI’s home country, the Norwegian government appointed 13 scientists to report on the effects fish farms are having on the wild salmon population returning to rivers.

The report by the Norwegian Scientific Advisory Committee for Atlantic Salmon is most terrifying. Of particular interest are the sections on the detrimental effects salmon farm lice and escapees are having on wild salmon populations.

In 2019, 1,393,000 metric tons of farmed Atlantic salmon were produced in Norway. It was reported that 43,000 escaped from fish farms in 2020. The mean annual number of escapees reported during the last 10 years was 168,000 salmon.

The actual numbers were two to four times higher than reported, according to the Institute of Marine Research during 2005-2011.

Studies have also shown there is widespread genetic introgression of escaped farmed salmon in wild salmon. The gene flow from escaped farmed salmon has altered the life history of wild Atlantic salmon in Norwegian rivers. Individuals with high levels of introgression from farmed fish have altered age and size at maturation.

Salmon returning to rivers each year has also diminished due to the impacts of salmon lice. This reduction threatens salmon populations in the most impacted areas and has significantly reduced the harvestable surplus for angling and marine fisheries over large parts of the country.

In 2010-2014, the report estimated that 50,000 fewer salmon returned from the ocean each year due to the impacts of salmon lice. For 2018, it was estimated there was a reduction of 29,000 salmon due to salmon lice, and for 2019 a reduction of 39,000 salmon.

The full report can be viewed at Status of Wild Atlantic Salmon in Norway 2021.

Covid fails to dampen spirits at Annamoe Fishery

Covid regulations were to the fore at the post-Christmas fly fishing outing to Annamoe Fishery in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, last Tuesday.

All the usual protocols associated with competitions were set aside for the 15 competitors. No gatherings, no cross-checking size limits, 5m distance between anglers and the fishery lodge remained closed. It was a case of bring your own sandwiches and tea and stay outside at your peg.

That said, the day was a huge success. “It was like a summer’s day” was a comment overheard. Mild temperatures, sunshine and slack winds. And the fish responded in good numbers too. A total of 34 trout were landed (and returned), with Templemore angler Pat Noonan taking the honours with six fish. Craig Sheridan caught a beauty of 3.5lb.

Annamoe Trout Fisheries is open most days. Contact Brian for fly-casting lessons and further details at 0404-45470.

*If you have an angling story to share, please send to me at angling@irishtimes.com.

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The use of additives in salmon farming can have implications for the safety and sustainability of the industry, with concerns around antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution.

What has the release of Netflix's ecological crisis documentary "Seaspiracy"  exposed?

The pollution risks associated with antibiotics used in sea-farmed salmon.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a method of fish farming that can reduce the need for additives by using multiple species that complement each other and mitigate against problems.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association has warned the federal government about the waning efficacy of SLICE, a pesticide used to control sea lice, and has called for the approval of new pesticide options.

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Drug-resistant sea lice an increasing problem for B.C. fish farms, new study finds

By Melanie Nagy

Click here for updates on this story

    May 14, 2022 (CTV Network) — Every spring, endangered juvenile wild salmon migrate from B.C.’s rivers to the Pacific Ocean, but their numbers are dwindling and some fear sea lice parasites are increasingly to blame. Sea lice are tiny, oval shaped crustaceans that can cling to the backs of wild salmon, feeding on their skin, muscle tissue and blood. Adult fish are generally not harmed when a few lice attach themselves, but juveniles with underdeveloped scales can be harmed or killed when heavily infested. While the parasite occurs naturally in the waters off B.C.’s coast, there’s long been concern over outbreaks on aquaculture farms where open-net pens make it possible for lice to move from farmed fish to young migrating salmon. “Salmon farms act as this year-round reservoir for sea lice, potentially providing sea lice to wild juvenile salmon when they wouldn’t normally get them,” conservation biologist Sean Godwin said. Godwin is the lead author in a recent study that looked at the state of sea lice in the Pacific Ocean. Along with his fellow researchers, he found the parasite is increasingly becoming resistant to one of the main tools the industry relies on to combat the problem. “Our paper found that this tool, which is a pesticide known [as] SLICE, or emamectin benzoate, is becoming less effective and that sea lice are developing resistance to it on farms here,” Godwin said. To assess parasite resistance, “bioassay, treatment and salmon-louse count data from 2010 to 2021” were analyzed. During that time, the researchers found a notable decrease in the effectiveness of SLICE. “It is going to be more difficult for salmon farms to control sea lice outbreaks on their farms,” said Godwin. In the province’s stunning Clayoquot Sound, Bonny Glambeck routinely uses a fine-mesh net and a sample cup to test the waters near fish farms. Glambeck heads the Tofino-based conservation society known as Clayoquot Action and every year she monitors industry lice counts and tracks wild salmon infestations. “The control of sea lice on fish farms is something I do not believe the industry has ever been able to crack,” she said. “Parasites like these sea lice proliferate on these farms and then they can pass them on to wild salmon. With that, we feel that every year that goes by and these farms are allowed to pollute the waters with these infestations, they are just wiping out another generation of wild salmon.” Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires all fish farms in Canadian coastal waters to have a sea lice management plan. The federal department also places a limit of three lice per salmon during the spring when young salmon are out-migrating and are most vulnerable. In addition to that, the industry publicly reports lice counts on individual company websites every month. “The worry is that those lice levels might accumulate and then be released back to affect wild migratory salmon. The science doesn’t support that, but the concern exists so the industry responds to that,” said Brian Kingzett. Kingzett is the science and policy director with the BC Salmon Farmers Association. He says the industry has warned the federal government for years about the waning efficacy of SLICE, and has long called on Ottawa to approve new pesticide options. “There are other anti-parasite agents that have been approved in other areas of the world and we would certainly like to add that to our toolbox.” While SLICE is the only approved pesticide in Canada, it is not the only option for a fish farm struggling with a lice infestation. Kingzett says other environmentally friendly methods include the use of specialized delousing boats. One readily used vessel can suck fish from ocean-based pens into tanks where pressurized water is used to forcibly remove any attached lice. According to the industry, any dislodged bugs are collected by filters for disposal so they are not reintroduced to the marine environment. “During the last five years, the industry has spent about $100 million on importing new technologies,” Kingzett said. “Fish farming is an important industry in B.C. because we are facing a global seafood shortage and the farming sector is looking to provide sustainable, high-quality product.” The industry, however, is controversial and there’s been an ongoing battle to have all fish farms in the province removed. Earlier this month, there was a large protest in Tofino involving Indigenous leaders, conservationists and environmentalists. The group took to the waters near a local fish farm to voice their opposition to the industry and call on Ottawa to evict them. “It is a do-or-die moment for the salmon farming industry,” said Alexandra Morton, who is an independent biologist and longtime wild salmon activist. “We need to do whatever we can to save wild salmon populations because they are sadly on the verge of extinction.” In response, those in support of fish farms argue they are not a direct threat to wild salmon and are a vital industry. According to the BC Salmon Farmers Association, there are nearly 5,000 jobs linked to fish farms and at least $1 billion “in economic activity” is generated annually. Despite that, Ottawa has previously announced that it’s committed to phasing out open-net salmon farms in B.C. by 2025. In addition, it’s uncertain if 79 federal fish farm licenses expiring in June will be renewed.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Matthew Talbot
matthew.talbot@bellmedia.ca

CNN Newsource

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The Canadian government has announced plans to phase out open-net salmon farms in British Columbia by 2025, which may impact the use of additives in salmon farming and lead to more sustainable practices.

What countries or jurisdictions have regulations concerning additives in salmon feed?

What countries or jurisdictions have regulations concerning antibiotics in farmes salmon?

The use of insect-based feed and other sustainable practices can help reduce the environmental impact of salmon farming and promote a more sustainable industry.

The development of vegetarian feeds, with no fishmeal or fish oil, is being explored as a potential solution for certain species, but is not yet widely viable.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with various factors to consider, including the type of additive, the purpose of its use, and the potential health and environmental impacts.