Frequently asked questions

Skretting's purpose is 'Feeding the Future', but what does that mean? Globally, there is increasing competition for land, water and energy – all of which will increasingly affect food production. Safe, high-quality protein is essential, and aquaculture has the potential to provide this for the a world population that is growing at an unprecedented rate.

We get a lot of questions about aquaculture - what it is and what it means - and here we are trying to answer some of these, largely from a feed producer standpoint, but sometimes on behalf of the industry, to provide a clear understanding of our industry and of the measures we are taking to fulfil our purpose. We’re committed to achieving this with a strong focus on reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.

READ WHAT GSA SAYS ABOUT AQUACULTURE AND WHY WE NEED IT

Please click on the different questions to read our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about aquaculture and aquaculture feeds.

Health and safety

How health care supplements works in aquaculture?

Health care supplements for shrimps are nutritional supplements designed to support the health and growth of shrimps. These supplements usually contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients that are required for healthy shrimp growth and development. Health care supplements works on 3 main components Flexibility – Easy application on farm with instant effects Controlling – Disease prevention and animal health protection Sustainability – Improves profitability in antibiotic free production systems

Why choose farmed over wild fish?

There are many positive reasons to choose farmed fish over wild. In many cases, wild populations of fish are under threat due to over-fishing, habitat loss or other changes. We know exactly what a farmed fish has eaten and the level of control over the ingredients, while we have no control over wild fish or possible pollutants they have consumed or been exposed to.

Is it safe to eat farmed fish and shrimp?

The regulations that govern the harvest and processing of seafood for human consumption rank among the most stringent in the world. Aquaculture standards have been developing for many years and high-quality fish and shrimp feeds are a prerequisite for the industry. In order to minimise the industry’s exposure to risks, Skretting has implemented dynamic quality assurances and controls at every stage in all of our production cycles. Nutrace® is Skretting’s company-wide management programme that ensures feed-to-food safety and quality. It has been developed in such a way that all potential risks associated with aquaculture feed production are minimised and any irregularities are quickly found and acted upon.

Are the animal by-products used in aquaculture feeds dangerous to human health?

No. The safety of animal by-products has been proven by numerous scientific studies. Utilising these raw materials that would otherwise go to waste also helps to dramatically reduce the amount of fish meal and fish oil used by the industry. This contributes to the sustainability of the food industry and the circular bioeconomy. 

Do feeds contain growth hormones or antibiotics?

No. Skretting feeds do not contain any growth-promoting hormones. In some markets, antibiotics are added to Skretting feed upon customer request and per veterinary prescription, in accordance with specific rules established by law. The requirement of veterinary prescription ensures that the usage is well documented and justified, based on a proper diagnosis thus helping to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Do feeds contain chemicals or preservatives dangerous to human health?

No. Aquaculture feeds are subject to strict checks to ensure that they do not pose any threat to human health. Any preservatives used must comply with laws and regulations governing their use. 

Feed ingredients

Do salmon and trout feeds contain colouring?

In the wild, the flesh of salmon and trout can be a red/pink colour, due to an antioxidant called astaxanthin.  Astaxanthin is produced in natural waterways by algae, yeast and bacteria, all of which are in the food chain of salmonids. Astaxanthin is an essential nutrient for salmon. It is required to remain healthy and disease free.

What ingredients are in Skretting feeds?

Aquaculture feeds contain essential nutrients that should be delivered in the right quantities to keep fish and shrimp growing well and healthily. These nutrients come from a variety of different sources. In addition to fish meal and fish oil, they often contain other vegetable-based meals and oils, fish trimmings and processed by-products from land animals. 

Are the raw materials we use in our feeds responsibly sourced?

Yes. At Skretting, we maintain that one of the most positive sustainability impacts that we can have is to ensure that we manufacture our feeds from responsibly sourced raw materials. Therefore, we set strict minimum criteria for the sourcing of marine products and for the management of the fisheries that fish meal and fish oil originate from. We also follow the principles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.  

What are fishmeal and fishoil, and why are they used in aquaculture feeds?

Fish meal is a powder obtained after cooking, pressing, drying and milling fresh raw fish, while fish oil is a liquid pressed from the cooked fish. Both are produced from harvesting short-lived, fast-growing stocks of small, bony and oily fish for which there is little or no demand for human consumption. By-products or trimmings from seafood processing are an increasingly large contributor to fish meal and fish oil production.

What is ethoxyquin and is it safe?

Ethoxyquin is an antioxidant that protects and maintains the quality of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish meal, particularly during transport and storage. According to the Norwegian National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), ethoxyquin exposure has not been found to have any effect on humans.  

Is low fish meal/fish oil content in feeds harmful to fish and shrimp?

No. The latest feed formulations are specifically designed to give aquaculture species all of the nutrients that they need in order to optimise their health and growth performance, and to ensure end-product quality. These new feeds are also helping to ease the demands put on finite marine raw materials resources, particularly fish meal and fish oil. Fish and shrimp need nutrients, not ingredients. Our knowledge enables us to formulate based on nutritional composition. This is similar to humans meeting nutritional requirements as vegetarians or other specific dietary needs.

Does Skretting use novel ingredients in its feeds?

Yes. Skretting is in full support of the development of novel ingredients and we have been using some of these in our diets with the support of those customers. We are proactively working towards fully understanding the complexities of all new alternatives from sustainability, nutritional, quality and safety, regulatory and financial perspectives. For us, flexibility is essential. 

How much wild fish is needed to feed farmed fish?

Skretting now has the knowledge and R&D to produce Atlantic salmon feeds requiring zero fish meal, and zero fish oil. We invest in R&D that provides full flexibility. 

what is pond preparation?

Pond preparation involves a series of actions taken to prepare pond, for aquaculture activities. This process includes activities such as draining, cleaning, leveling, and fertilizing the pond to create suitable conditions for aquatic organisms to thrive and for aquaculture operations to be conducted effectively.

what is ehp?

EHP stands for Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei, which is a microsporidian parasite that affects shrimp, particularly in aquaculture. It causes hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis, a disease characterized by white feces syndrome and hepatopancreatic degeneration in shrimp, leading to reduced growth and productivity in shrimp farms.

what is molting in shrimp?

Molting in shrimp is the natural process of shedding their exoskeleton to grow larger. During molting, shrimp temporarily become soft-bodied until their new exoskeleton hardens. This process is crucial for shrimp growth and is regulated by hormonal changes in their bodies.

What is biosecurity in shrimp?

Biosecurity in shrimp farming involves stocking disease free seed, pond preparation, water screening, prevention of entry of disease carriers, personal hygiene, and sanitation. Biosecurity plays a pivotal role in farming to maintain disease free environment.

What is Artemia used for?

Artemia, also known as brine shrimp, is commonly used in aquaculture as live feed for fish and crustacean larvae due to its high nutritional value and small size.

How do you treat EHP in shrimp?

EHP infected ponds, use concentrated bleaching powder 100kg Potassium permanganate 6kg , Formalin 6 lt, Copper sulphate 6kg , Calcium oxide 800kg in water per acre; thoroughly mix and keep water for 6 days then drain out again and dry.

Shrimp on a hand in front of a shrimp farm

What is a loose shell in Vannamei?

Loose shell in Vannamei shrimp refers to a condition where the shrimp's exoskeleton becomes detached or partially separated from its body, leaving the shrimp vulnerable to injury or infection. It can be caused by various factors such as poor water quality, nutritional deficiencies, or diseases.

What causes white feces in shrimp?

White feces in shrimp is often caused by hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis, a condition associated with infections like Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). This parasitic infection affects the hepatopancreas, leading to changes in fecal colouration.

What is the disease in Vannamei shrimp?

One common disease in Vannamei shrimp is the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), a highly contagious viral infection that causes white spots on the exoskeleton, lethargy, and ultimately death in affected shrimp.

Sustainability

Why is aquaculture important?

According to WWF, 85% of the world’s marine stocks are either fully exploited or overfished. Our planet’s population is forecast to expand by over 2 billion people by 2050, and with this growth will come much greater demand for food, including seafood. Because there is negligible scope for capture fisheries to increase their harvests, aquaculture needs to bridge the gap between the long-term supply and demand, while doing all it can to also reduce the pressure on wild-capture fisheries.

Is aquaculture sustainable?

Yes, when done properly. As a global society, we are around 7.5 billion people heading towards 9.5 billion by 2050. Not only does this present the problem of an additional 2 billion mouths to feed, human diets are also increasingly shifting in line with growing prosperity. Consequently, the forecast that current global agriculture production needs to almost double by the midway point of this century makes long-term food and nutrient security one of the most pressing challenges that we face today.

Is aquaculture controlled?

In most regions, aquaculture is subject to strict controls throughout every stage of production right up to the point of human consumption. Skretting feeds undergo strict quality control processes. As we take food safety very seriously, Skretting has a global, comprehensive feed to food quality programme whereby we monitor for unwanted substances in both raw materials and feeds.