The Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF), in association with Marks and Spencer,

has commissioned new research to look at the potential to use seaweed (macroalgae) and

other microscopic algae as commercially viable sources of raw materials to feed fish.

With food supplies from wild fisheries reaching a plateau, almost 50% of all the seafood

consumed now comes from aquaculture of which 6% is marine fish farming. The effect of world

population growth combined with our increasing consumption of seafood means that the

demand for seafood can only be met by aquaculture production.

Like pigs and poultry, many types of farmed fish are fed on formulated diets to ensure they

remain healthy and grow at an optimal rate. However, a proportion of these diets rely on raw

materials from capture fisheries. Whilst this feed is usually confined to types of fish humans

would not choose to eat, it is generally accepted that supplies of proteins (fish meal) and

lipids (fish oils) are finite and that alternative sources and diet formulations will be needed.

There is increasing interest worldwide in growing micro and macro algae for a variety of

purposes – including biofuels, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals and as raw materials for

formulated diets. With its extensive coastline, well established marine research capacity and

progressive approach to renewable energy development, Scotland is at the forefront of this

activity, with a growing body of research expertise as well as commercial and political

interest.

Mark James, from SARF, said: “The use of seaweeds and other algae could help to reduce

reliance on traditional sources of raw materials for aquaculture diets. There is also some

evidence to suggest that they may have other important properties relevant to fish health

and welfare. The fact that seaweeds would largely be cultivated at sea means that there

would be no competition for valuable arable land or freshwater resources. This project will

hopefully provide an objective view on the viability of algae as a raw material source for

aquaculture feeds. As ever, the harsh realities of global economics, demand and consumer

acceptance will need to be considered, but there is the prospect that seaweeds and their

microscopic relatives may play an increasingly important part in our future.”

Richard Luney, Wild Fish and Aquaculture Manager from Marks and Spencer said “as part

of our Plan A environmental and ecological initiatives we have committed to sourcing all of

our aquaculture species and feeds from the most sustainable sources by 2015. By

supporting the SARF project we aim to understand the potential for algae to supplement our

aquaculture feeds with ingredients that have the potential to provide essential health

benefits to our customers whilst taking some of the pressure off wild fish sources”.

Richard Slaski of Epsilon Resource Management Ltd, the contractor chosen to undertake

the research project, said: ”On a global basis animal feeds consume a significant proportion

of available fish meal and fish oils. We know that fish oil equivalents, in particular, can be

produced by some types of algae. If we can use algae to provide these ingredients, not only

will it make feed formulation more flexible, it will cut out some of the intermediate steps in

the food chain and aquaculture will be doing its part to reduce pressure on wild fish stocks.”

Dr Piers Hart, Aquaculture Policy Officer for WWF Scotland, who was involved in developing

the specification for the review, commented: “WWF welcomes this new approach to help

address one of the key challenges for the future of the fish farming industry. The potential

for replacing wild fish with seaweeds in feeds for farmed fish is a fantastic opportunity to

improve the sustainability of salmon farming and fish farming in general.”

END

Editors Notes

The vast majority of aquaculture production (c. 88%) is either marine plants and algae, filter

feeding shellfish, or omnivorous/freshwater finfish with a low requirement for marine protein

and lipid derived feeds. However, the remaining small (but important to Scotland and other

EU27 states) percentage are carnivorous finfish species, which require commercially

formulated feeds that contain high levels of protein and lipid. The traditional source of the

raw materials to manufacture these diets has been fishmeal and fish oils derived from the

feed fish capture sector – largely to ensure that the amino acid and fatty acid components

are nutritionally suitable for the finfish species being cultivated.

This issue was also discussed at a recent Marine Conservation Society workshop - “Feeding

the Fish of the Future – Alternative choices for aquafeeds”, which highlighted the increasing

need for the aquaculture feeds of the future to rely on alternative, non-marine ingredients,

such as algae. The event also highlighted the growing interest and concern for the future

formulation of aquaculture feeds by policy makers, NGO’s, feed companies, and retailers.

The Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum is an independent company whose main aim is

to support research into aquaculture and related areas. The Strategic Framework for

Scottish Aquaculture was published by the Scottish Executive in March 2003. This

document outlined a vision of an aquaculture industry guided by the principles of sustainable

development, balancing economic progress with social justice and environmental

responsibility. The formation of the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum was one of 33

priorities for action contained within the framework and was created to promote, encourage

and support research and development in aquaculture. SARF was formed in April 2004 as

an independent company limited by guarantee with charitable status.

The aims of SARF are:

• To promote, encourage and support scientific research and development in

aquaculture and related areas. This includes research in the fields of environmental

impacts, technical and biological cultivation and health and welfare science.

• To enhance public understanding of aquaculture through the dissemination of

research results in the public domain. This will include research exhibitions and online

publications of investigations and results.

• SARF has a range of members including representatives from the aquaculture

industry, government organisations, wild fish groups and environmental NGO's. The

research undertaken will be across a broad range of areas and will be required to

meet the collective needs of its members.

Contact:

Dr Mark James –

Email: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.

Tel: 01350 727484

Mobile: 07789743487

http://www.sarf.org.uk

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