Domestic feed sources to farmed Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). An investigation of nutritional implications and impact on the ecological footprint

This study presents an overview of recapturing nutrients from Baltic Sea through mussel farming and producing mussel meal, detoxification of polluted fish into purified high quality fish meal and oil and introducing microorganisms as waste consumers as well as good protein sources for fish diets. Work on this study is focused on comparing growth performance of test diet, which has been made strictly of domestic (Baltic Sea) protein sources to commercial diet. Also, the study backs up the idea that use/reuse of protein sources and nutrients, i.e. making diets of sources from Baltic Sea and use them in aquaculture makes positive impact on ecological footprint, restores balance in aquatic ecosystem and flow of nutrients that can compete with present commercial diets in growth performance and price. The study is based on practical experiment, literature investigation and personal communication with people involved in this issue. Experiment is based on comparing growth performance of fish fed commercial (control) feed and test (experimental) feed. The thesis intends to show that recapture of nutrients is a way to establish a nutrition positive and environmental sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea