A pair of notable Norwegian fish farming companies have teamed up with none other than the SINTEF Ocean research institute in order to set up a unique aquaculture farm that is designed to take advantage of the waste produced by salmon in order to enhance the growth and health of kelp.
Situated in Norland county, this experimental aquaculture farm is designed to grow salmon and kelp in close proximity. The benefit of this particular setup is that the feces and waste produced by salmon will be available to the kelp, with the resulting uptake in nutrients helping the seaweed to grow in a faster and healthier manner. Not only will the kelp be available for use to enhance the nutrients of livestock feed for cattle, but some of its byproducts can actually be of use in salmon feed, making for a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Kelp-Boosting Aquaculture Farms
This Farm Aims to Use Salmon Waste to Boost the Growth Of Kelp
Trend Themes
1. Aquaculture-kelp Synergy - Using the natural symbiosis between salmon and kelp to create sustainable and mutually beneficial farming techniques.
2. Circular Agriculture - Transforming waste from one industry to become a valuable resource in another to create a closed-loop system of resource management and sustainability.
3. Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture - Developing innovative aquaculture systems that use the natural relationships between different organisms to increase resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Industry Implications
1. Aquaculture - Exploring techniques to optimize the use of resources in fish farming while minimizing environmental impact, and seeking opportunities for symbiotic relationships between different organisms in aquatic systems.
2. Agriculture - Identifying opportunities for using natural resources, such as seaweed, to enhance the nutritional value of livestock feed, and developing closed-loop systems for waste management and resource utilization.
3. Biotechnology - Developing new feed formulations that incorporate seaweed and other natural ingredients to improve animal health and productivity, while reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and aquaculture.