Understanding the Technical Gap: Why Marine Fish Farming Cannot Be a Copy-Paste of Salmonid Aquaculture

By: Victor Vargas

Marine finfish aquaculture is expanding rapidly, driven by the global demand for high-value species and the search for diversification beyond traditional cold-water production. However, a recurring challenge in emerging marine fish industries is the assumption that salmonid culture techniques can be transferred directly to marine species. In practice, this “copy-paste” approach often leads to inefficiencies, unexpected biological responses, and avoidable production losses (Timmons & Ebeling, 2013).

While salmonid aquaculture is a mature and highly standardized industry, most marine species remain comparatively new in commercial farming. This difference in technological maturity—and in biological fundamentals—creates a structural gap that must be acknowledged by farmers, technicians, and investors alike.

Feeding Behavior and Aggression: Two Different Worlds

One of the first divergences appears during feeding. Salmonids have well-characterized schooling behavior, predictable appetite cycles, and relatively homogeneous feeding dominance. Their response to feeding is rhythmic and easy to anticipate (NRC, 2011). Marine species, by contrast, may display heightened aggression during mealtimes, more territorial feeding patterns, or inconsistent social hierarchies that influence who eats and how much (Bregnballe, 2015).

These behavioral nuances affect:

• feed distribution strategy

• feeder placement

• ration timing

• monitoring of uneaten feed

  
  

Trying to implement salmon-style linear feeding protocols in species with aggressive or selective marine feeding behavior often results in higher waste and poorer uniformity (FAO, 2020).

Growth Models and Performance Indicators

Growth in salmonids follows well-studied curves with robust predictive models and decades of empirical data (Timmons & Ebeling, 2013). Marine species, however, frequently exhibit greater variability in:

• growth rates

• metabolic response to temperature

• size variation within cohorts

  
  

These differences create challenges when salmonid performance benchmarks—such as growth uniformity expectations—are imposed on marine species without adaptation. The production cycle may need distinct grading strategies, different photoperiod manipulation, or modified densities.

Even standard indicators such as Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) must be interpreted cautiously. For example, marine species with strong hierarchy behaviors may exhibit good population-level FCR but poor individual uniformity, which can lead to harvest inefficiencies (NRC, 2011).

Feeding Strategies and Nutritional Flexibility

Salmonid nutrition is one of the most studied animal nutrition fields globally. Diet formulations, digestibility coefficients, amino acid profiles, and feeding curves are backed by extensive research. Marine finfish nutrition, although progressing quickly, still lacks the same volume of long-term data (FAO, 2020).

Key differences include:

• digestive physiology

• lipid metabolism in warmer waters

• tolerance to diet changes

• response to high-energy feeds

• pellet acceptability and sinking rates

  
  

Applying salmon diets or feeding models directly to marine species can produce inconsistent FCR, slower growth, or reduced gut health—all commonly reported errors in new marine farming ventures (Bregnballe, 2015).

Health, Parasites, and Disease Pressures

Disease ecology provides one of the clearest distinctions between marine and salmonid aquaculture. Salmonids are susceptible to a well-documented set of pathogens—particularly those associated with cold, low-salinity environments (Timmons & Ebeling, 2013). Marine species face a different suite of parasites, many with complex life cycles involving invertebrate or environmental stages absent in salmonid systems (FAO, 2020).

Additionally:

• bacterial communities differ in warmer, saltier water

• external parasites are often more prevalent in marine cages

• viral pressures may vary according to ecosystem and life stage

  
  

These contrasts underscore why health plans, vaccination strategies, and biosecurity frameworks must be tailored to marine biology rather than adapted from salmonid standards.

A Broader Production Philosophy

Ultimately, the most important message is this:Marine fish farming is not a modified version of salmon farming—it is a fundamentally different biological and operational discipline.

The industry is still evolving, learning, and building the empirical base that salmonids accumulated over decades. Approaching marine aquaculture with flexibility, species-specific design, and open adaptation is the key to preventing avoidable errors and ensuring long-term sustainability.

At Pinuer Consulting, we bring firsthand operational experience in the cultivation of high-value marine species. We understand the unique biological, technical, and economic challenges of marine aquaculture and help producers avoid the common pitfalls that arise when salmonid methodologies are applied without adaptation.

We specialize in transforming scientific insights into profitable operational strategies. If you’re ready to elevate your marine aquaculture project with expert guidance and data-driven decision-making, contact us for a strategic consultation.