krill Archives

Little Giants: Utilisation of Calanus and krill / Litlir risar: Nýting rauð- og ljósátu

Útgefið:

31/01/2025

Höfundar:

Stefán Þór Eysteinsson, Gunnar Þórðarson, Sigurjón Arason & Jónas R. Viðarsson

Styrkt af:

AG fisk (Nordic council of ministers working group on fisheries cooperation)

Tengiliður

Stefán Þór Eysteinsson

Fagstjóri

stefan@matis.is

This report explores potential utilisation of Calanus finmarchicus and krill in Nordic waters. Both are key zooplankton species that play vital ecological and economic roles in the marine ecosystems. The report therefore highlights their importance in supporting marine food webs, contributing to carbon sequestration, and offering potential applications in food production, pharmaceuticals, and aquaculture.

The report identifies key challenges to sustainable harvesting, including ecological risks, technological constraints, and the need for regulatory oversight. It also highlights opportunities for innovation through technological advancements, market expansion, and regional collaboration among Nordic countries. Recommendations focus on fostering research and development, harmonising regulatory frameworks, and engaging stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability.

By addressing these aspects, the report aims to support informed decision-making and promote the development of Calanus and krill fisheries as part of a broader strategy for sustainable ocean resource management in the Nordic region. The report is an outcome of an AG fisk supported networking project aiming to facilitate networking and sharing of knowledge among different Nordic stakeholders on utilisation of Calanus and Krill. Much of the information presented in the report originates from a workshop held by the project, in Copenhagen on May 15^th 2024. Further information is available on the project’s webpage https://little-giants.net/

Skoða skýrslu

Shrimp feed formulations have moved towards less fish meal and more of the readily available and cheaper plant proteins. To counteract the lower attractiveness and palatability of plant proteins, feeds are supplemented with ingredients known to have chemoattractive properties that will increase feed intake. This study investigated the putative chemoattractive effect of Calanus finmarchicus hydrolysate, when used as a dietary supplement in shrimp feeds. C. finmarchicus is a zooplankton species native to the northern Atlantic Ocean and is a novel and sustainable raw material for shrimp feed products. Diet attractiveness was evaluated in a 24-day feeding trial with whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by measuring the intake of 12 diets with various levels of fish meal, calanus hydrolysate, and krill (Euphausia superba) meal. Higher inclusion rates of both ingredients resulted in increased feed intake, and supplementing the high fish meal diet with calanus hydrolysate gave a statistically significant higher feed intake. Low molecular weight peptides, chemoattractive amino acids, and the water-soluble nature of the hydrolysate could explain the chemoattractive properties observed in the study.