NOAA/USDA eye on alternative aquafeed
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are soliciting information and ideas on ways to lessen dependence on fish-based feeds for the aquaculture industry.
29th 2008, is the first step of a broad, year-long program that will include
public, stakeholder and scientific consultations aimed at eventually developing
new and effective ingredients for aqua- feed.
Identify
needs
“40% of the seafood consumed in the United States comes from
farmed sources, so we have a keen interest in making sure that aquaculture
production is efficient and environmentally responsible,” said Bill Hogarth,
director of NOAA Fisheries Service. “Our program will identify science needs on
alternative feeds for aquaculture.”
Focus areas
Specifically,
NOAA and USDA are seeking responses in the following areas:
(1)
Groundbreaking 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?
(2)
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?
(3) 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?
(4) 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?
To
submit a question, idea, or recommendation on alternative feeds for aquaculture,
stakeholders should send an e-mail to: noaa.aquaculture@noaa.gov; send a fax to:
301-713-9108; or, send a letter to: NOAA Aquaculture Program, Alternative Feeds
Initiative, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13117, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The
deadline for comments is February 29, 2008.
Join 26,000+ subscribers
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated about all the need-to-know content in the feed sector, three times a week.
