Photo: Skretting

Aquaculture Innovation: Experts Address Hidden Challenges of Waterborne Feeding

Skretting Leads Research to Ensure Feed Reaches Fish in Optimal Condition, Revealing the Complexity of Underwater Delivery Under Pressure

The increasing adoption of waterborne feeding systems, both in traditional aquaculture and in closed aquaculture systems (CAS), promises greater efficiency but also introduces a unique set of challenges that, if not properly managed, can compromise feed delivery and fish nutrition. Skretting, a leader in aquaculture nutrition, is at the forefront of research to overcome these complexities, ensuring that feed reaches fish in optimal condition.

According to Iulia Florescu, a researcher at Skretting Aquaculture Innovation, the goal is to ensure that "what goes into the system reaches the fish in optimal condition — delivered at the right depth, structurally sound, nutrient rich — and ready to be consumed." The path from silo to fish is, surprisingly, more complex than it looks.

Pressure, Sampling, and the Unseen Force of Water: Three Key Factors

Skretting's research highlights three critical factors in waterborne feeding:

1- The Slow-Sinking Challenge:

Waterborne feeding systems exert considerable pressure through pumps to transport feed. This pressure can force water into the pellets, increasing their density and causing even slow-sinking or floating feeds to sink more quickly. At greater depths, pressure increases, further impacting pellet buoyancy. Maintaining consistent slow-sinking behavior becomes extremely difficult, especially with pump pressure fluctuations. "For feed to perform as intended, understanding and controlling pressure in waterborne systems is key," Florescu notes.

2- Complex Sampling:

Evaluating feed behavior in these systems involves much more than just scooping up a few pellets. Pressure, depth, and system variability all influence the feed's characteristics. What is seen at the surface may not reflect what is happening inside the water pipes or underwater. While simulations offer indications, they do not provide the full picture. Thousands of data points from laboratory simulations and analyses, alongside feed collection at sites—often at depths of up to 20 meters—are needed to make informed decisions.

3- Water: The Unseen Force:

In aquaculture, the focus is often on the feed. However, in waterborne systems, it is actually the water that plays the dominant role. Water is more than a carrier; it is a dynamic force that exposes the feed to pressure, turbulence, drag, and time—factors that can affect the physical integrity and nutritional value of the pellets. The challenge lies in preventing nutrient loss, minimizing pellet breakdown, and ensuring that what goes in is what actually reaches the fish. "Designing feed that can withstand the journey is just as important as its formulation," Florescu concludes.

Skretting emphasizes that thorough research is at the heart of everything they do, and waterborne feeding is no exception. The company is committed to continuous learning and has gained substantial knowledge in producing feed that meets the unique challenges of waterborne feeding systems.

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Address:	Sjøhagen 15
City:	Stavanger
State/ZIP:	(4016)
Country:	Norway
Phone:	+47 815 21 300
Fax:	+47 515 85 768
E-Mail:	[email protected]
More about:

 

Print