EXPERT TOPIC
ATLANTIC SALMON
EXPERT TOPIC
Atlantic salmon
by Rebecca Sherratt, Features Editor, International Aquafeed
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a species of fish synonymous with the aquaculture industry. Farmed throughout the world, the salmon industry only continues to expand year-on-year as the demand for sustainable protein grows.
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almon can be found across much of Europe, North America, Canada and Australia and are most widely farmed in Norway and Chile. The species can be distinguished by its large mouth and silvery colour, which may contain distinct spots of green, brown or blue. Males and females can be easily distinguished, as male salmon develop a distinct kype (a hook on the lower jaw which can be displayed as a form of dominance). Salmon farming first began in the UK in the 1800s, before being further popularised in Norway in the 1960s through sea cage farming, which was proven to increase salmon to a marketable size and ensure increased profitability. Following these developments, farmers soon began to establish salmon farming facilities in Canada, Northern America, Scotland, Australia and Chile. The rapid increase in salmon farming has led to decreased prices, as production continues to outpace demand. Despite this, a shift is being exhibited towards a rising demand for sustainable protein, which can be readily provided by salmon. As salmon has proven challenging to sell at or above cost of production, many countries have implemented quality checks. In 1990, 225,642 tonnes (t) of salmon were produced globally, which has seen a significant increase year-on-year. In 2015, 2,381,579t of salmon were produced, 90 percent of which is specifically Atlantic salmon. The primary market for Atlantic salmon imports is Europe, North America and Japan.
Diet
Salmon do not have any strict form of protein requirement but require many essential amino acids to ensure proper growth, such as histidine, leucine, lysine and methionine. The dietary requirements used for Atlantic salmon is notably similar to that of Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Essential elements needed by Atlantic salmon are also notably similar to that of terrestrial animals, such as zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Salmon feeds are primarily made up of fish meal and fish oil, but the growing demand for protein has led to the development of vegetal and insect proteins sources. Many technological solutions are now also on offer for salmon farmers to monitor their feeding processes, so fish can be 50 | October 2020 - International Aquafeed