QMAR - Unlocking the nutritional and technical Quality potential of MARine by-products in sustainable salmonid feeds

Marine meals have high nutritional value in salmonid feeds promoting higher and healthier fish growth compared to highly substituted plant based diets low in marine water solubles (MWS). With a fully exploited wild fish catch, a rapid growth in fish farming and increased need for fish feed, marine ingredients constitute a decreasing share of the feed. We estimate that approx. 0.3 out of 2.3 million tons marine catch landed by Norwegian vessels are discarded. This amount would support farming of nearly half as much more salmonids today, increased sustainability and potentially more value through species specific targeted bioactive MWS. In QMAR, we addressed two major challenges in sustainable growth of the salmonid aquaculture: A) Environmentally responsible and sustainable growth, demanding timely and efficient exploitation of underutilized marine raw materials, and B) Formulation of future feeds that support high fish performances and welfare, requiring more basic and practical knowledge on the marine meal properties and metabolic functions and the respective shortcomings of plant raw materials. The innovative idea of this project is to tackle these two major challenges combined, and building on existing scientific results on MWS, significantly advance our knowledge to produce high performing raw materials and sustainable diets with low contents of marine ingredients for salmonids. Co-products from fish and krill catch were processed, both at lab-, pilot- and full scale. The new products developed were characterized and tested in different biological trials to study digestibility and performance in fish both during optimal and sub-optimal conditions. Effects of raw materials were screened both in small scale cell culture, and in ADC screening in fish tanks. We also developed methodology and analysis of brain and gut nutrient sensing, hormone release, and appetite and digestion control (gut-brain axis). Full scale process improvements were implemented, and novel raw materials developed in project are ready for implementation.

Novel sustainable raw materials based on underutilized marine side-stream products were developed and optimized, full scale process improvements were implemented, and products are ready for implementation. Products were documented in salmon and supports high fish performance and welfare. Methodology developed are being used and/or further developed, and more basic and practical knowledge on the marine meal properties and metabolic functions are achieved. The project has increased interdisciplinary or international research collaboration, it has increased competence in the consortium, and there are several spinoff projects from the IPN.

Marine meals have high nutritional value in salmonid feeds promoting higher and healthier fish growth compared to highly substituted plant based diets low in marine water solubles (MWS). With a fully exploited wild fish catch, a rapid growth in fish farming and increased need for fish feed, marine ingredients constitute a decreasing share of the feed. We estimate that ca. 0.3 out of 2.3 million tons marine catch landed by Norwegian vessels are discarded. This amount would support farming of nearly half as much more salmonids today, and potentially 3 or 4 times more using species specific targeted bioactive MWS. In QMAR, we will address two major challenges in sustainable growth of the salmonid aquaculture: A) Environmentally responsible growth, demanding timely and efficient exploitation of underutilised marine raw materials, and B) Formulation of future feeds that support high fish performances and welfare, requiring more basic and practical knowledge on the marine meal properties and metabolic functions and the respective shortcomings of plant raw materials. The innovative idea of this project is to tackle these two major challenges combined, and building on existing scientific results on MWS, significantly advance our knowledge for the production of high performing raw materials and sustainable diets with low contents of marine ingredients for salmonids. The main objectives of QMAR are to 1) Identify marine by-product ingredients and fractions that promote feed intake and healthy fish growth 2) Define the process (e.g. by hydrolysis) to increase the yield of vital components in marine supplements in plant based feeds and 3) Understand the metabolic pathways affected by essential appetite and growth promoting components along the gut/brain axis in salmonids. The results from this project will enable us to substitute FM and krill meal with MWS, thus increasing sustainability and profitability of the aquaculture sector in Norway and abroad.