The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed a special material to reduce off-flavours in farmed fish as well as limit the occurrence of water mould in fish farms.
Researchers at Luke and VTT have developed innovative cellulose-based materials to address two key challenges in aquaculture: off-flavours in fish and water mould. Off-flavours, particularly problematic in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and water mould, which can cause significant production losses in salmonid farming, both reduce profitability in the industry.
The new materials effectively capture off-flavour compounds and water mould spores from water, preventing their accumulation in fish. Trials at Luke’s facilities showed the chemically treated fibre material could accumulate off-flavour compounds up to 1,000 times higher than untreated water, keeping fish concentrations below sensory thresholds. Additionally, the fibre material significantly reduced water mould spores, offering a safe and effective alternative to traditional methods.
Patent applications for both innovations have been filed, and researchers aim to scale up and commercialize the solutions, inviting industry collaboration for further development.