i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i
News
i i i i i i i i i i
French retailer launches salmon fed with Veramaris’ natural marine algal oil
R
Dr Neil Auchterlonie Zinc and omega-3 fatty acids
esearchers from Nofima, the Norwegian research organisation, reported last month that the barrier tissue of salmon is affected by zinc and omega-3 levels in feed, in a recent piece of scientific work that was funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF). Why is this important? Well, the integrity of salmon skin, intestine and gill tissues is vital for the health of the fish. These barriers are recognised as important first lines of defence against pathogens, as well as being important in helping the organism handle physical stressors such as fluctuations in temperature, salinity, or water quality in general. The article that has been presented on the Nofima website points out the importance of these compounds nutritionally, and particularly in relation to the changes we are seeing in feed formulations such as new feeds specifically for recirculation systems, as well as the obvious dominance of plant-based raw materials in modern feed formulations. The research set out to investigate whether changes in feed composition would affect the health and robustness of farmed salmon, and the scientists looked specifically at the interaction of zinc and marine source omega-3 fatty acids in feed, for parr to post-smolt in recirculation systems. It seems to be a part of an ongoing programme of work that has looked at the general robustness of fish in the aquaculture environment, which is highly applied and very relevant work. The results are described in the context of the health and welfare of the fish, and those are obvious impacts related to the ability of the salmon to cope with a pathogen challenge, whether it is ISA virus or sea lice. This science is important in the context of declining marine ingredient inclusions in aquafeeds. Fishmeal and fish oil are excellent sources of many micronutrients, and among the many different compounds present that contribute to fish (and consumer) health are zinc and the long chain fatty acids, EPA and DHA. When the rise of the alternatives is being promoted by journalists it incorrectly presents the perspective of these materials as being replacements for fishmeal and fish oil. I understand how important it is to the producers of these materials to capture the attention of the media and potential investors, but that is a misrepresentation. It is incorrect. There are no true “replacements” for fishmeal and fish oil. What we have with the rise of the alternative ingredients is production of materials that may be used to supplement the available fishmeal and fish oil, but that in itself is exceedingly important as it continues to support the continual growth and development of the aquafeed and aquaculture industries worldwide. It also frees up the supplies of fishmeal and fish oil to be used at points in production where the greatest benefits may be achieved. That strategic use of marine ingredients in aquafeed was first identified by Dr Jonathan Shepherd of IFFO more than ten years ago, and Jonathan had the foresight at the time to describe the situation as it is currently playing out.
Dr Neil Auchterlonie is the Technical Director at IFFO. He has managed aquaculture and fisheries science programmes in both public and private sectors. Academically he holds a BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology from Stirling University, a MSc in Applied Fish Biology from the University of Plymouth, and a PhD in Aquaculture (halibut physiology) from Stirling University. 8 | September 2019 - International Aquafeed
T
he French supermarket chain Supermarché Match, headquartered in La Madeleine, has introduced fresh salmon sustainably fed with natural marine algal oil from Veramaris as one high-quality source of both omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA in all of its stores in France. Supermarché Match sources the salmon from Norwegian salmon farmer Lingalaks, headquartered in Norheimsund, Hardanger. Beginning in October 2018, Lingalaks has been feeding a sustainable salmon diet developed and manufactured by feed producer Skretting which includes omega-3 EPA & DHA algal oil from Veramaris as an alternative to fish oil from wild-caught fish. “At Supermarché Match, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to fresh and healthy food. The salmon we are now able to offer to our customers is rich in omega-3 EPA & DHA from natural marine algae. This is our contribution to conserving marine resources”, says Nicolas Baroux, Head of Procurement at Supermarché Match. Feeding salmon with natural marine algal oil resonates strongly with increasing consumer demands for nutritious and yet sustainably farmed seafood. In France, 93 percent of salmon consumers say that omega-3 content is somewhat, very and extremely important when purchasing salmon. As a result, omega-3 content is among the top five reasons for consuming salmon. “Omega-3’s are among the most important nutrients that people need for a healthy life. Omega-3 EPA & DHA are at the very core of the salmon brand-promise, making salmon a food choice consumers can count on when it comes to health benefits. The Veramaris oil is the only commercial source of omega-3 fatty acids from algae that is rich in both EPA & DHA. Producing natural marine algal oil through large-scale fermentation, Veramaris enables the aquaculture industry to become less dependent upon finite marine resources and continue to grow within planetary boundaries.