SweWeed - filamentous red algae as local, sustainable feed ingredient and "dietary supplement" for salmonid aquaculture.

Swedish health authorities advocate for an increase in seafood consumption. With wild fish stocks fully exploited, aquaculture is essential to meet this demand.

To achieve sustainable aquaculture, two key challenges must be tackled: the need for more sustainable feed (accounting for most of aquaculture´s environmental footprint) and the provision of optimal fish health and welfare under farming conditions. SweWeed addresses both challenges by leveraging the potential of red filamentous algae.

These algae possess high protein contents and high levels of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants and immune stimulants known to improve fish health and disease resistance.

However, to date, filamentous red algae have neither been produced in aquaculture nor been evaluated as fish feed ingredients.

SweWeed fills these knowledge gaps by conducting cultivation experiments using a novel filamentous algae isolated on Sweden´s west coast. Additionally, it explores the potential application of this algae in diets for salmonid fish.

Through feeding trials and immune challenges, this project will assess the possibility of filamentous red algae to substitute less sustainable protein sources such as fish and soybean meal, and the potential to enhance animal health and disease resistance.

With Sweden heavily reliant on fish imports, this project not only promotes sustainable food production and public health, but also self-sufficiency, which will be central in the face of future crises.