BioMar launches SmartCare Endurance to enhance fish health, resilience  

CHILE – Aquaculture solutions provider BioMar has unveiled SmartCare Endurance, a cutting-edge feed designed to bolster the resilience of farmed fish against environmental stressors, infectious diseases, and inflammatory conditions. 

This innovation comes after a decade of research and rigorous trials to address the pressing challenges in aquaculture, such as Salmonid Rickettsial Septicemia (SRS).  

The new feed will debut in Chile, a region grappling with significant aquaculture challenges. Trials revealed remarkable results, with fish with fed SmartCare Endurance showing up to 70% higher survival rates when exposed to bacterial and viral pathogens. 

Additionally, the feed minimised tissue damage and oxidative stress, accelerating recovery and improving growth rates.  

SmartCare Endurance operates by improving redox balance, a critical factor for immune health and overall fish vitality. 

According to Torunn Forberg, BioMar’s product marketing manager, the feed combines antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, and strengthen the immune system. 

This makes it an invaluable tool for farmers aiming to maintain fish health during disease outbreaks or adverse environmental conditions.  

The feed has proven particularly effective against pathogens like Piscirickettsia salmonis—responsible for SRS—and viral diseases such as IPN (Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis) and PD (Pancreas Disease). 

Forberg emphasised that the product equips farmers with a proactive approach to mitigate aquaculture risks while enhancing fish resilience.  

French caviar producers adopt BioMar’s low-impact feed  

In another sustainability milestone, French caviar producers under the Caviar d’Aquitaine association have become the first in their sector to adopt BioMar’s Blue Impact feed, a product designed to reduce aquaculture’s environmental footprint.  

The feed, which incorporates circular raw materials, is engineered to minimise carbon emissions and dependence on wild fish stocks. It meets stringent nutritional requirements for sturgeon while upholding high animal welfare standards. 

“There is no other caviar in France positioned this way,” remarked BioMar’s sustainability lead, Rocio Alvaro, highlighting the association’s efforts to merge traditional French farming with modern sustainability practices.  

The adoption of Blue Impact feed required consensus among multiple producers, who overcame challenges through their shared commitment to sustainability. 

BioMar’s BioSustain parameters track the feed’s environmental impact, focusing on carbon footprint reduction, forage fish dependency, and circular resource use.  

This initiative is expected to bolster Caviar d’Aquitaine’s positioning in the premium food market, distinguishing it from competitors, including Chinese imports.  

The success of Blue Impact feed in France builds on its implementation in salmon farming operations in Scotland and New Zealand. Loch Duart, a salmon farm in Northwest Scotland, adopted the feed last year, achieving significant sustainability milestones:  

– Carbon footprint reduction: Feed production emissions dropped below 2.0 kg CO2 eq/kg.  

– Marine by-product usage: Over 75% of marine ingredients in the feed come from UK fish processing by-products.  

– Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR): Loch Duart achieved an FFDR of just 0.7, less than half the industry average for standard farmed salmon.  

Loch Duart’s use of Blue Impact feed has also maintained high omega-3 levels in its salmon, enhancing quality and nutritional value.  

BioMar aims to expand the adoption of Blue Impact feed to other regions and species, reinforcing its vision of integrating environmental responsibility with aquaculture growth. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.