A new study led by researchers at Nofima, in collaboration with European institutions in Ireland and Spain, has revealed promising health benefits from deep-sea mesopelagic fish species such as hatchetfish and lanternfish.
The findings indicate that these underutilized fish species could be a source of bioactive ingredients for use in aquaculture.
The research identified bioactive peptides from proteins in mesopelagic fish, which exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and have potential applications in treating chronic conditions in humans.
In addition to medical potential, the study also explored the use of mesopelagic fishmeal and silage as feed for salmon.
The results showed that replacing conventional blue whiting fishmeal with mesopelagic fishmeal supported efficient salmon growth and maintained high appetite levels. The inclusion of mesopelagic fishmeal, which is rich in fatty acids and phospholipids, demonstrated positive effects on the salmon’s intestinal health.
“The salmon grew very well and had a good appetite for all the feeds,” said Sissel Albrektsen, senior researcher at Nofima, who led the experiments. “It was a very good experiment where we had to stop the trial one week before planned due to the high growth rate in the fish.”
This research highlights the potential of mesopelagic fish as a sustainable resource for salmon farming. The study is part of the Meeso project under the EU’s Horizon 2020 program and the SFI Harvest initiative by the Norwegian Research Council.
These findings could pave the way for new markets and products, potentially benefiting the Norwegian fishing industry by reducing the reliance on traditional fish stocks.
However, challenges remain regarding the mapping of mesopelagic fish stocks and their commercial capture. Solutions for locating, harvesting, and preserving these deep-sea species are necessary to fully realize their potential in a sustainable fishery.
