Studies show great effects on health and fillet quality in salmonids

Salmonids are curious animals. They are anadromous, which means that they start their lives in freshwater, and in their youth they migrate to life their life in seawater, which is a process that is quite stressful for their physiology. The salmonids also separate from other fish species by having fatty flesh packed with omega-3’s, and antioxidants that protects the fish from harm related to stress, and is also the reason that salmonids are such a healthy food for humans.

To stay healthy and also be healthy food for humans, the fish needs to get access to these nutrients from their diet. Research show that the levels of omega-3’s in the salmon reflects the levels in the feed, and there are numerous studies confirm that we may influence fish health and thus their well being through ensuring good nutrient levels in the feed.

Krill is part of the natural diet of salmonids in the wild. These small crustaceans rich in essential nutrients, including high-quality proteins, omega-3 phospholipids, antioxidants like vitamins and astaxanthin, as well as bioactive components such as osmolytes and nucleotides that support overall fish health.

Fish feed applications that include QRILL Aqua Total promote healthier, more robust farmed fish — and improve production efficiency. Feeds containing krill provide an optimal omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio, which supports a strong immune system in salmonids- a key factor for good health and reduced mortality. The antioxidants in krill help protect the fish from oxidative damage related to stressful conditions like transfer, disease and handling, Recently there is also increasing knowledge about bioactive components like osmolytes and nucleotides in krill that also helps support fish health.

Another key advantage of krill in salmonid diets is its function as a natural feeding stimulant. Salmonids are highly attracted to the taste of krill, leading to increased feed intake—even during periods of reduced appetite. This ensures a steady supply of essential nutrients, supports faster growth, and enables fish to reach harvest size earlier, reducing the period of disease exposure and handling stress.

Better health has a positive effect on fillet quality

The goal in salmonid farming is producing healthy fish and healthy high quality food for humans. These two are highly related. Is the fish healthy, this is often reflected in a high quality fillet. Using QRILL Aqua in feed for salmonids have shown to give better muscle quality and higher yield. Fillets

are firmer, there is less gaping, and for salmon a reduced occurrence of dark spots has been observed.

This improved yield is linked to the phospholipid content in krill, which positively influences fat deposition. Less fat is stored around the intestines as visceral fat, and more energy is directed toward muscle growth. This shift benefits both the fish’s health and the farmer’s bottom line, as more of the fish ends up as sellable product rather than being discarded during processing.

The combined benefits of improved feed uptake, fish health, and fillet quality are why QRILL Aqua is regarded as a premium nutrient source for salmonids. Its role will become even more important as new raw materials are introduced into aquafeeds. Krill’s taste-enhancing properties may help ensure feed acceptance when using novel ingredients, while also contributing essential nutrients that support fish performance.

We continue to collaborate closely with feed manufacturers, fish farmers, and independent researchers to document the effects of our Antarctic krill products. A growing number of studies confirm the advantages of including QRILL Aqua in salmonid diets.