Cermaq to trial algal oil as sustainable alternative
Cermaq Canada has announced that it is to carry out trials on the use of algal oil in its salmon feed.
The company hopes that the experiment will reduce the need for using marine ingredients.
Cermaq said it has committed to a nutritional innovation trial of Cargill’s salmon feed with Veramaris algal oil across several British Columbia farms.
German Campos, Cermaq Canada, said: “Testing Veramaris algal oil in our salmon feed is a significant step towards supporting our fish health, product quality and sustainability goals while reducing our dependence on marine resources.
“As partners in innovation, the move is the latest benefit of our collaboration with Cargill’s Aqua Nutrition business.”
Veramaris is an algal oil supplier based in Delft in the Netherlands. It has recently achieved a significant milestone, completing a rigorous three-year process with Canadian regulators and obtaining its first market authorization in March 2024.
But the actual Veramaris algal oil is produced in Blair, Nebraska, in the US, and offers a regional solution to North American aquaculture producers who are seeking more sustainable, alternative sources of Omega-3.
This regulatory approval, says Cermaq, is a crucial step forward for Canadian aquaculture, affirming the safety and compliance of Veramaris’ ASC-MSC-certified algal oil, which is rich in Omega-3 EPA & DHA, essential nutrients for the health of farm-raised salmon and consumers of the resulting seafood.
David Kiemele, Managing Director Cermaq Canada, said: “By leveraging the experience of the use of Veramaris algal oil across Cermaq, we look forward to conducting the sea trials and learning more about how we can incorporate this exciting alternative to marine fish oils into our nutritional strategies.
“Implementing these innovative solutions demonstrates how quickly the aquaculture industry in Canada can move to adopt new techniques.”
He added: ““Our company is proud to be one of the first movers in this space in Canada.”
Isaac Yun, Country Director at Cargill Aqua Nutrition, said: “Cargill is excited to collaborate with our valued partners Cermaq and Veramaris to introduce a new novel ingredient in the Canadian aquaculture market.
“As we move forward on this sustainability journey for our customers, it is critical we provide alternatives in biodiversity for the feed industry to progress into the future of aquaculture.”
“Farmers in Chile, Norway, and Ecuador have been successfully using Veramaris natural marine algal oil in their feed for years now. With the recent registration in Canada, we are pleased to see farmers adopting it in salmon feed there,” said Jorge Torres Lagreze, Business Development Americas at Veramaris.
