July 8, 2010

Australian researcher turns pig waste into fish feed

Pig waste may be turned into food for fish for the aquaculture industry, South Australian biotechnologist Andrew Ward researches.

Biotechnologist Andrew Ward breaks down pig waste, turning it into nutrients to feed water fleas, which in turn become fish feed. This can also be done with other waste, from places like wineries and abattoirs.

Ward said the process simulates what already happens out at sea.

"Basically reproducing what happens in nature, first you grow the algae, then you feed it to the zooplankton and then to the fish, very much like what happens out in the natural environment," Ward said.

"We just pick the things that are most productive and maximise the productivity of them to make it commercially viable," he added.