Taste test springs a surprise

In the 3-year study, researchers from Nofima, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and the Institute of Marine Research found that feed pellets accounted for 78-100% of the stomach content of saithe caught around salmon farms.

However, despite fishermen reporting that the quality of catches near fish farms is poor, due to this diet, the study found this was not the case in the eyes of consumers.

“Our results don’t support these claims,” says Bjørn-Steinar Sæther, Senior Scientist and project manager from the food research institute Nofima.

The scientists caught the saithe in nets near farms at Hitra and Ryfylke on the west coast of Norway, at different times of the year, over a period of three years. At the same time, they fished in control areas where the fish were hardly affected by the farming activities. Thus, the samples consisted of wild-caught saithe that had consumed salmon feed, and saithe that had not. Fat tests showed that fish close to the plants had been eating salmon feed for some time.

Saithe that had eaten pellets were found to be softer and tended to show more gaping between muscle segments. This is also common in wild fish that naturally eat excessively in periods with good access to food.

In the project, the research institute NINA also evaluated the taste of the fish. In two separate tests, the majority of the group (74 and 91% of them) claimed there was a difference in taste. Perhaps surprisingly, however, when they were served oven-baked saithe fillets, most preferred the fish that had eaten salmon feed.

“Thus, we can both measure and observe a difference, but in terms of what is best to eat, it’s all a matter of consumer preferences. In our test, saithe with salmon feed came out best," says Sæther.

“This indicates that there is less difference in quality than what seems to be the general impression," he concludes.