NOAA/USDA Targets Industry and Science for Fishmeal Alternatives

The public comment period, which closes on 29 February 2008, is the first step in a wide-spectrum, 12-month programme that will include public, stakeholder and scientific consultations aimed at developing new and effective ingredients for aquaculture feeds.

Around 40 per cent of the seafood consumed in the United States is derived from aquaculture and a more sustained and efficient approach to production is preferred, says Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service.

"Our program will identify science needs on alternative feeds for aquaculture," he added.

Focus

• Ground breaking research on alternative dietary ingredients (feedstuffs) for aquaculture, including plant based proteins. Where should the federal government focus its research efforts in the area of alternative feeds for aquaculture? Are there specific areas that the federal government should not address?
  
  
• What are potential alternative sources of protein and oil for aquaculture feeds? For example, are there specific opportunities for greater use of seafood processing waste and other agricultural by-products in aquaculture feeds? Are there specific obstacles to using these alternatives as alternative dietary ingredients in aquaculture feed?
  
  
• What type of treatments or processes show promise for improvement of existing aquaculture feedstuffs and for developing new feedstuffs? How soon could these technologies be commercialized?
  
  
• Fish meal and fish oil contribute important human nutritional components to aquaculture feeds such as omega 3 fatty acids. As the aquaculture feeds industry seeks to replace fish meal and fish oil with alternatives, how can the nutritional benefits of farmed seafood be maintained or enhanced? For example, what technologies exist for producing omega 3 fatty acids?

• Email to: noaa.aquaculture@noaa.gov;
• By fax to: No. + 301-713-9108;
• By post to: NOAA Aquaculture Program, Alternative Feeds Initiative, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13117, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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