© Nofima
The Nofima study investigated the properties of deep-sea mesopelagic fish, such as hatchetfish and lanternfish, which could be beneficial in aquafeeds for farmed salmon.
When compared to traditional aquafeed ingredients in an experimental setting, fishmeal produced from the deep-sea species was shown to support efficient growth in salmon, and was shown to be rich in both protein and fat. The aquafeed produced from hatchetfish also contained high levels of valuable fatty acids and phospholipids that demonstrated positive health effects in the salmon intestine.
“The salmon grew very well and had a good appetite for all the feeds. It was a very good experiment where we had to stop the trial one week before planned, because of the high growth rate in fish,” said Sissel Albrektsen, senior Nofima researcher, in a press release.
In addition to the potential for novel aquafeed ingredients, the study found that hatchetfish and lanternfish contain peptides which could hold promise for the pharmaceutical and health industries.
The researchers suggest that these peptides may have anti-inflammatory properties and could potentially be used to create new medicines for pain and chronic inflammatory conditions. The substances also have the potential to positively influence blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
“These are exciting findings that show that deep-sea fish can also be a source of healthy bioactive ingredients," said Albrektsen.
Although the results are promising, there are still some challenges related to mapping stocks, locating where the deep-sea fish are, as well as challenges with capture, raw material handling and preservation that need to be solved to realise a commercially sustainable fishery of mesopelagic fish.
