With the volatile commodities market and the actual scarcity of some ingredients such as fish meal and oil, feeds using alternative proteins and oils need to be tested. Feeds that have already been developed in the commercial feed industry may not meet the needs of FWS. Fish nutrition research at the Abernathy Fish Tech Center addresses the suitability of the alternative proteins and oils in feeds for captively raised fish stocks. Areas that are studied include availability of the nutrients required by the fish in the new ingredients tested. Fish responses to alternative feeds are also examined to determine the impacts of these foods on the health and survival of the hatchery-raised smolts.
