Veramaris algal oil is produced in Nebrasksa, USA.
Photo: Veramaris.
Canada has given formal regulatory approval to algal oil as a fish feed ingredient, after algae oil producer Veramaris was granted the first market authorization to include algal oil in feeds for salmonid species.
The Netherlands-based company is a key supplier of algal oil, which is rich in Omega-3 EPA & DHA-rich algal oil, and has now completed the necessary three-year registration process for its use in Canadian salmonid farming.
The algal oil, which Veramaris produces at its facility in Blair, Nebraska, USA, is described by the company as "a regional solution that supports the industry's move towards adopting alternative Omega-3 sources and reducing dependency on fish oil as a primary source of essential fatty acids for salmon feed."
Veramaris's algal oil is ASC and MSC-certified, and provides a source of EPA and DHA, nutrients which are essential for optimal salmonid health.
"The Canadian registration of Veramaris' algal oil is key to supporting the rising global demand for alternative sources of Omega-3 EPA & DHA. Securing authorization in Canada is an important step not only for Veramaris but also for the entire aquaculture industry," said Gertjan de Koning, CEO of Veramaris, in a press release by the company.
The development has also been welcomed by representatives of Canada's aquaculture sector, currently the world's fourth-largest producer of salmonids, including farmed Atlantic salmon.
"Canadian aquaculture is at a pivotal point, and Veramaris' algal oil brings us closer to achieving our sustainability aspirations," said Tim Kennedy, President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.