Study assesses the ROI of including more omega-3 fatty acids in salmon feed
Study finds higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in salmon diets boost survival, efficiency and quality
A large-scale analysis of Norway’s commercial salmon farms has found that higher levels of dietary omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA significantly improve fish survival, feed performance and product quality – offering strong evidence that better nutrition delivers measurable returns across the supply chain.
The study analyzed 10 years of data from 166 farms, covering 430 million fish across nine production zones in Norway. Salmon fed diets high in EPA and DHA showed 8 percent lower mortality rates and a 13 percent improvement in feed conversion efficiency. Flesh quality also improved, while the predictability of outcomes increased by up to 50 percent, offering producers greater control and more reliable business performance.
“Raising salmon on diets rich in EPA and DHA checks all the boxes: better survival, feed efficiency, quality and less waste overall,” said Yann Le Gal, global business development manager at Veramaris. “This ensures the health of the animals and improves the sustainability of aquaculture as a reliable food system.”
Veramaris, in collaboration with Manolin, conducted the analysis as part of its ongoing research into the role of EPA and DHA in aquaculture nutrition. Using a data set twice the size of previous studies, the research offers empirical evidence of the effects of dietary improvements on fish health and production outcomes.
The findings may support feed producers, farmers, processors, retailers and foodservice operators in evaluating nutritional strategies and updating product specifications based on measurable performance gains.
“Our approach, inspired by medical data science, delivers more precise insights,” said Tony Chen, CEO of Manolin. “Rather than comparing fish by generations, we analyzed populations, allowing us to detect patterns across similar farm conditions with much greater confidence.”
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