Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Aquaculture is now the fastest growing food production sector, and its contribution to the global fish market is expected to continue to rise as the human population approaches 9.7 billion by 2050. The land-based aquaculture industry has developed water recirculation systems to meet environmental regulatory demands for capturing and treating discharged waste. While this addresses waste management regulations and prevents eutrophication in local water ways, it also results in large solid waste disposal costs. Due to its nutrient profile, aquaculture solid waste has been suggested that it could be used as a compost fertilizer. However, it remains unclear if aquaculture solid waste is suitable as a compost fertilizer. Hamilton’s Fish Farm is a land-based aquaculture producer of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) looking to partner with the Nova Scotia Community College to develop their aquaculture solid waste as a compost fertilizer. For this project, an aquaculture solid waste compost will be developed and investigated to determine its effects on crop growth and yield, as well as nutrient leaching through the soil profile as compared to non-composted aquaculture solid waste and synthetic fertilizer. This research has the potential to convert waste into a viable commercial product resulting in a new revenue stream for the aquaculture industry. For Canada, the adoption of aquaculture solid waste compost for crop production has the potential to reduce nutrient runoff, waste entering landfills, and provide an alternative to synthetic fertilizers.