SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2023 59 clusion of algal oil instead of fish oil led to a huge reduction in the marine footprint of the farmed salmon. Additionally, higher EPA and DHA levels mean that consumers can attain recommended intake levels by consuming just one portion of salmon per week, consistent with advice from national health authorities. Moreover, the pigmentation and sensory characteristics of raw fish fillets were maintained intact suggesting that the replacement of fish oil with algal oil is not likely to affect consumer preference. With its ease of integration into fish feed, Veramaris microalgal oil has become a viable alternative for addition to aquafeed. IMPROVING AQUACULTURE PRODUCTIVITY BY MEETING DIETARY OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6 REQUIREMENTS While scientists typically determine the dietary needs of fish based on development, they rarely consider challenging farm conditions during lifecycles. EPA and DHA requirements are higher for salmon, for instance, when they are held in more challenging conditions. Likewise, the ratio of DHA to EPA changes through the lifecycle. As a result, the amount and type of essential fatty acids in aquafeed are important to the performance and welfare of fish. The Optimum Omega Nutrition™ guidelines developed by Veramaris help farmers provide peak health, welfare, and performance at each stage of growth. Optimum Omega Nutrition™ by Veramaris is a guideline for meeting EPA & DHA Omega-3 and ARA Omega-6 requirements, while maintaining the correct Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio in fish and shrimp diets, leading to improved health and welfare throughout production. By using Veramaris natural marine algal oil in conjunction with the Optimum Omega Nutrition™ guidelines, fish farmers not only stand to improve productivity, product quality and yield but also lower their marine footprint. References • Santigosa E, Olsen R E, Angelico Madaro A, Trichet V V, Carr I (2023) Algal oil gives control of long-chain omega-3 levels in the full-cycle production of Atlantic salmon, without detriment to zootechnical performance and sensory characteristics. DOI: 10.1111/jwas.12947 • Carr I, Glencross B and Santigosa E (2023) The importance of essential fatty acids and their ratios in aquafeeds to enhance salmonid production, welfare, and human health. Front. Anim. Sci. 4:1147081. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1147081 About Ian Carr Ian is passionate about sustainable aquaculture and experienced in aquafeed innovation, marketing and sustainable development from earlier roles with EWOS, Cermaq and Cargill. He currently leads Global Business Development for Veramaris, an innovator of omega-3 oil from fermented algae . He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland and has also studied fish farming. “I believe aquaculture has a bright future,” says Ian. “Veramaris helps farmers to produce healthier fish and more sustainable seafood for people to enjoy."
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