Research funded by FHF suggests that omega-11 supplementation in salmon feed could improve fish health and increase the nutritional value of farmed salmon.
The findings come from the KetoOmegaLaks project, led by Nofima researcher Bente Ruyter, which examined how omega-11, also known as cetoleic acid, affects salmon metabolism when added to feed.
According to FHF, omega-11 improves the utilisation of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, traditionally supplied through fish oil. Marine raw materials used in feed production remain limited in availability, increasing interest in methods that improve omega-3 efficiency.
Omega-11 occurs naturally in North Atlantic pelagic species including herring, capelin, mackerel and zooplankton such as copepods.
FHF said the results showed promising effects on the salmon’s metabolic health and could support increased use of herring oil and copepod-derived ingredients in future feed formulations.
Svein Martin Jørgensen, head of research at FHF, said the findings aligned with results from other clinical studies on omega-11 and described the work as approaching “a clear breakthrough”.
FHF said it has invested around NOK 45 million (€4.14 million) in projects examining the health effects of omega-11.