WARRNAMBOOL marine researchers have joined an international race to save the planet’s fish stocks by searching for sustainable ways to harvest fish oil.
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A consumer craze for fish oil products has depleted oceans, leaving scientists and the food industry to answer hard questions about how to grow fish economically and spare marine ecosystems.
This week the final touches have been put on a unique aquiculture facility at Warrnambool’s Deakin University campus that will allow scientists to test and grow species in both fresh and marine waters.
A plain-looking green shed beside the Hopkins River could hold the answers after Dutch experts installed new tanks and piping.
Facility manager and lecturer Bob Collins said most people had no idea of the huge pressure oceans were facing from demand for the fish oil tablets.
“They see a picture of a fish on the label, they see a little capsule with oil in it and they think maybe it comes from a fish, but what they don’t understand is how it gets there,” Mr Collins said.
“We’re upgrading from a freshwater system into marine. It will give us a better competitive advantage. Huge amounts of fisheries are now starting to decline, particularly with sardines and pilchards, where a lot of fish oil comes from.”
Fish oil is not only stocked on supermarket shelves but is also fed to farmed fish on land.
“What we’re trying to do is to find a substitute for fish oil,” Mr Collins said.
Both business and environment could benefit if researchers uncover the answer, Mr Collins said.
“Lots of terrestrial-harvested oils like canola can be used at different stages in the diet to replace fish oil.
“That takes pressure off harvesting fish out of the ocean.”
He said waters off Chile and Australia had been particularly exhausted.
There’s been a global push for Omega-3 products, which have health benefits for clearing arteries and developing foetuses.
“While scientists are identifying all these new aims for these particular products, we’re raping and pillaging the oceans to do it.
“Commercial boats just can’t catch a lot of the fish any more, the fisheries have collapsed. If we can do this economically on land then we’re sparing the oceans.”
The $700,000 refurbishment is part of an overall $5 million upgrade of marine facilities and research capacity at the Deakin University Warrnambool campus.
