Big Data study
2025
Higher Dietary EPA & DHA Levels Improve Salmon Farming Productivity and Predictability
Key Findings
Farm Data Performance Results
Under comparable conditions, salmon fed above-average levels of EPA & DHA demonstrated significantly better and more predictable performance compared to those fed below-average levels.
These results are important for the salmon industry. Any reduction in eFCR and mortality translates to improved fish health and welfare, reduced waste, and a lower environmental footprint through more efficient use of resources. Furthermore, a reliable uptick in the superior/premium quality at harvest means stable, higher average selling prices along with customer satisfaction and trust.
Processor Data Results
Data from processors revealed that above-average levels of EPA & DHA in fish feed consistently delivered better flesh quality.
Reduced melanosis and blood spots in salmon fed higher levels of EPA & DHA reaffirms previous research findings. Both present serious concerns for the industry, often forcing downgrades, reprocessing, or waste.
Improvements in these two key quality metrics safeguards value, avoids supply chain disruptions, and builds reputation in the marketplace at every level.
Conclusion
This study unleashes the power of big data from commercial salmon farms in Norway to confirm what we already know from scientific studies: Dietary EPA & DHA levels have a significant impact on fish health & welfare, feed conversion, and product quality. Improving these metrics reduces waste and smooths the supply chain with more certainty of high-quality fish. Salmon raised on diets with higher EPA & DHA levels perform consistently better on a range of production metrics: Improved eFCR and superior/premium quality at harvest, reduced mortality, and better flesh quality.
Furthermore, the enhanced predictability of outcomes provides farmers with greater control as well as dependability and confidence to the entire value chain.
Smart salmon farmers are investing in better nutrition through higher dietary EPA & DHA levels, yielding a substantial return on investment through better biology, better productivity, and better quality.
Download the whitepaper to learn more
At Veramaris, we have confidence that our Optimum Omega Nutrition (OON) concept maximizes the health and performance of farmed fish. This set of critical feed guidelines are intended to help fish and shrimp farmers and feed suppliers meet EPA & DHA requirements. By harnessing the power of next generation of aquaculture intelligence, we are learning more about the benefits of better nutrition.
This study is a continuation of earlier work published in 2023, which analyzed data from 2013 to 2022, revealing that higher EPA & DHA levels significantly enhanced salmon production metrics, including improvements in eFCR and a greater share of superior/premium quality at harvest when dietary levels exceeded 8% of total fatty acids (TFAs).