Krill Meal Boosts Growth and Survival in Atlantic Salmon Smolts After Seawater Transfer

High-quality feeds with sustainable and functional ingredients play a critical role in enhancing the health and robustness of fish. The objective of the present trial was to compare feed intake, growth performance and survival of Atlantic salmon smolts (151±44 g) fed a commercial diet with 15% fishmeal with a diet containing 5% fishmeal + 10% krill meal (KM) after their transfer to seawater. The study was performed at a commercial fish farm for 116 days, and ten sea cages were included in the study. Five cages received the commercial control diet (with average of 198599 fish/cage), while the remaining five cages received a diet with 10% KM (with average of 197101 fish/cage). At the end of the trial, 4.8% enhanced specific growth rate (1.52% with 10% KM and 1.45% in control), and 22% reduced mortality (0.49% in 10% KM and 0.63% in control) were observed with the 10% KM diet, although not statistically significant. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in plasma parameters and fatty acid composition of heart, liver, and fillet. This field trial demonstrated that inclusion of 10% KM could have positive effects on growth and survival of Atlantic salmon smolts.