Andfjord Salmon, Skretting and Zooca facilitate use of zooplankton in feed

Andfjord Salmon, Skretting and Zooca have signed an agreement to facilitate the provision of a specifically designed salmon feed for Andfjord Salmon as well as a long-term cooperation to increase incorporating zooplankton Calanus finmarchius in salmon feed.

Calanus Plus, by Andfjord Salmon, marks the first salmon feed that uses the zooplankton Calanus finmarchius as a raw material ingredient. It also contains algae oil as an alternative to fish oil. The zooplankton is one of the most abundant animal species on the planet with a reproduction of 300 million tonnes. It is Norway's largest harvestable and renewable marine resource. Current rates show that Zooca only harvests 0.0005 percent of total volume per annum.

"Calanus finmarchius is nature's own 'starter' feed. It is a natural prey that is biologically adapted to provide optimal nutrition for fish. Adding Zooca Hydrolysate … will be very useful to stimulate the fish's appetite in the transition to seawater," explains Mads Martinsen, Director of Product Development and Sustainability at Skretting.

Andfjord will be the first salmon farmer in the world to use a commercially developed feed with Calanus. Earlier in February, Andfjord entered into a feed supply agreement with Skretting. The agreement has overseen the development of a feed tailored to the company's flow-through technology which ensures optimal water quality, fish welfare and growth conditions.

Image credit: Andfjord Salmon

Andfjord recently released the first smolt into its site at Kvalnes at the end of June this year, reporting that smolt had adapted quickly and biological conditions were as expected. The site utilises flow through technology which enables the producer to simulate wild salmon's natural habitat in a land-based facility. Read about the first smolt release, HERE.

Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon who was involved in releasing the first smolt, refers to "ambition" when referring to the feed. "Our ambition is to develop the world's most fish friendly and sustainable aquaculture facility of its kind. Having our own specially designed feed, with unique ingredients from a local supplier, is another important building block towards realising this ambition."

'The fish has settled quickly and has already demonstrated a healthy appetite, which continues to improve daily. Fish mortality rate is extremely low, so it has been a promising start,' Mr Rasmussen adds.

Zooca is responsible for supplying the Zooca Hydrolysate to Skretting, which processes Calanus finmarchius at its facility at Sortland, nearby to Andfjord's site at Kvalnes. The company has, for the last 20 years, researched and developed technology that can sustainably harvest and process the zooplankton.

"By sustainably harnessing high-performing, high-quality nutrients from Calanus finmarchicus, there is a large potential to improve long-term human health and ensure superior animal nutrition around the globe. We are delighted to secure this commercial breakthrough within salmon feed together with Andfjord Salmon and Skretting," says Hogne Abrahamsen, International Account Director at Zooca.

"We look forward to using Calanus Plus by Andfjord Salmon at our Kvalnes site and to the long-term cooperation with Skretting and Zooca," concludes Martin Rasmussen.