POTENTIAL OF FISH SLUDGE

Potential of Fish Sludge – Research report from NIBIO confirms commercial potential of fish sludge from Andfjord Salmon 

Dried fish sludge from Andfjord Salmon’s land-based aquaculture facility has the potential to be used in growth media such as organic fertiliser and organo-mineral fertiliser for agriculture and gardening, concludes a research report from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO). 

“Put plainly, we can make money from the salmon’s faeces”, says Martin Rasmussen, CEO in Andfjord Salmon and educated within biology.  

“To treat biological waste as a sustainable resource rather than a problem has been a key objective for us. The NIBIO report confirms that this is possible, taking us one step closer to building the world’s most sustainable and fish-friendly aquaculture facility”, Rasmussen adds. 

The NIBIO report was developed on behalf of Andøytorv AS and Andfjord Salmon AS. The research institution explored both opportunities and limitations related to the use of fish sludge from Andfjord Salmon as a CO₂-reducing component in products like growth media, soil improvers and fertiliser products for agriculture, gardening and other relevant areas of application. 

In this context, fish sludge means fish faeces and leftover fish feed that sinks to the bottom of the land-based farming facility at Andøya, which in turn is collected by cleaning robots. 

The NIBIO report concludes that dried fish sludge from Andfjord Salmon’s land-based farming facility has the properties required to satisfy the treatment requirements set in current regulations. This will still be valid after the expected upcoming revision of Norway’s fertiliser regulations. Thus, the fish sludge has many potential areas of application. As an example, fertiliser made from dried fish sludge can be used as an additive in growth media such as organic and organo-mineral fertilisers, used on agricultural land, for gardening, and other agricultural purposes. 

“To reuse biological waste is both sustainable and profitable. We will use NIBIO’s recommendations in our continued efforts to explore the compelling commercial opportunities our fish sludge brings”, says Rasmussen. 

Andfjord Salmon has developed an innovative and sustainable patented aquaculture concept for land-based farming of Atlantic salmon. The company’s flow through facility is escape-proof, lice-free and its innovative cleaning system avoids polluting marine life. Additionally, the facility will be partly powered by the use of solar panels and wind turbines.