Perspectives on Salmon Feed: A Deliberative Assessment of Several Alternative Feed Resources

Abstract

The future of salmon aquaculture depends on the adoption of alternative feed resources in order to reduce the need for fish meal and fish oil. This may include resources such as species from lower trophic levels, by-products and by-catch from fisheries and aquaculture, animal by-products, plants, genetically modified (GM) plants, nutritionally enhanced GM plants and products from microorganisms and GM microorganisms. Here, we report on a deliberative assessment of these alternative feed resources, involving 18 participants from different interest groups within Norwegian salmon aquaculture. The participants defined a broad range of appraisal criteria concerning health and welfare issues, economical issues, environmental issues, and knowledge and social issues. A number of uncertainties, in the form of incomplete knowledge, diverging opinions, and context specific factors were identified when the participants evaluated the alternatives. Our findings support the need for more research on the suitability of alternative feed resources for farmed salmon. Additionally, the study underlines the importance of facilitating deliberative assessments in order to map the plurality of perspectives and explore qualitative aspects of uncertainty. Such initiatives improve the information base upon which decisions on future feed resources for farmed salmon are made.

Essential Features of Responsible Governance of Agricultural Biotechnology

“…This technique not only enables a clear picture to be developed about how different stakeholders view the available alternatives and how they weight different evaluative criteria, it also captures how they see the uncertainties involved and how these uncertainties affect their preferences and decision making. This allows biotechnologies to be compared with a range of other technologies for their potential to address the problem at hand against diverse evaluative criteria [ 23 ].…”

Perspectives on Salmon Aquaculture: Current Status, Challenges and Genetic Improvement for Future Growth

“…In this regard, formulation of suitable diets for farmed salmon requires inclusion of fish meal and fish oil in appropriate quantities, to give the final product the required nutritional quality and composition. Usually, formulated diets for salmon constitute 40-60% fish meal and 20-30% fish oil, sourced mainly from marine anchovies, mackerel, pilchards, herring and blue whiting [45]. These marine fish species are often targeted as sources of fish meal and fish oil for salmon feed production because they provide appropriate nutrients for carnivorous fish species and offer appropriate amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3), in the fillets of the salmon, which is beneficial for human health.…”

New Developments in Biotechnology and IPR in Aquaculture – Are They Sustainable?

“…In one study carried out by Kvakkestad et al (2007) it was found that that different scientists, depending on scientific discipline (ecology, molecular biology, plant breeding), source of funding (public or industry) or whether they worked within industry, government or academia, interpreted data differently in situations characterised with uncertainty, and thus expressed a diversity of opinions about the risks arising from GM crops. In a recent study by Gillund and Myhr (2010) perspectives on alternative feed resources for salmon were identified among stakeholders in Norwegian aquaculture. In this study the sustainability of plant production in industrial agriculture, and particularly the cultivation of GM plants, was contested among the participants.…”