October 8, 2024
European project explores deep-sea fish as future source for aquafeed and human health
The European Meeso project, part of the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, and SFI Harvest under the Norwegian Research Council, are exploring ways to use deep-sea mesopelagic fish species in aquafeed and human health applications, AquaFeed reported.
Mesopelagic species such as hatchetfish and lanternfish, found in ocean depths between 200m and 1,000m, are being studied for their nutritional benefits. Recent experiments have shown that fishmeal and silage produced from these species support efficient growth when used as ingredients in salmon feed. In trials, fishmeal from mesopelagic species replaced a portion of blue whiting fishmeal in feed for salmon, resulting in similar high growth rates.
Sissel Albrektsen, who led the experiments, explained that salmon fed mesopelagic fishmeal exhibited strong growth and a healthy appetite for all feed types tested. "The salmon grew very well and had a good appetite for all the feeds. It was a good experiment where we had to stop the trial one week before planned, due to the high growth rate in fish," Albrektsen noted. The study showed that mesopelagic fishmeal and silage offer health benefits like conventional fishmeal from blue whiting.
The research also revealed potential health benefits for humans. Peptides from mesopelagic fish hydrolysates were identified as having anti-inflammatory properties, with the potential for use in new medicines to manage chronic conditions, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Additionally, some peptides were found to have an umami taste, making them promising for future food applications.
Despite the promising findings, challenges remain in fully utilizing mesopelagic species. Accurate mapping of mesopelagic fish stocks, locating the fish, and overcoming issues with capture, raw material handling, and preservation are key obstacles to developing a commercially viable fishery. Estimates of the volume of mesopelagic fish range from 600 to several thousand million tonnes, but further research is needed to better understand the potential yield.
- AquaFeed
