How Much Ammonia Do Fish Produce? [Ultimate Guide!]


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While some people bemoan the loss of large chunks of ocean in recent years, it has also created a demand for products like Seafood Ammonia Solubiliser which releases ammonia (NH3) as a byproduct during the conversion of fish waste to energy and nutrients.

But how much ammonia do fish produce? And how harmful is it to fish and the environment?

The Importance Of Ammonia

Ammonia is an acid which is toxic to fish and other aquatic creatures. It has a strong pungent odor which makes it easily detectable and also very irritating to the nose and lungs. When inhaled, it can cause headache, irritation, and even damage to the respiratory system. In high concentrations, it can also be extremely corrosive to exposed skin.

But it’s not just aquatic life that is at risk from ammonia. It continues to be produced by fish even after they are cooked and when they are kept frozen for later consumption. As a result, some experts recommend limiting the amount of fish eaten by humans as it may pose a risk to their health. (3)

How Much Ammonia Does Fish Produce?

Ammonia is a chemically potent substance and even small quantities can quickly accumulate in water sources near fishing communities. This is why the amount of ammonia excreted by fish has been measured in milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. (4)

The specific quantities depend on many factors like the species of fish, the size of the fish, the geographical region, and the time of day. (5) One study found that sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and lake trout (Salmo gairdneri) all excreted relatively large amounts of ammonia. (6)

Another factor which affects the amount of ammonia which fish produce is the diet. Certain types of fish, like pikes (Erythrinus spp.), consume more ammonia-yielding compounds than others do. For instance, the fatty fish like salmon typically have higher concentrations of ammonia than most other fish because they contain higher levels of protein. (7)

Even when adjusted for the amount of dietary fiber in the fish meal, some species seem to have a much higher nitrogen fixation ability than others. The two most prolific nitrogen fixers are the eelpout (Monocentris japonica) and the pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). (8)

Ammonia And The Environment

In terms of environmental impact, ammonia is among the most serious substances that a fish can produce. It is a highly visible and odorous pollutant which is toxic to aquatic life. It is also a key component of fish waste which, when decomposed by bacteria, contributes to the formation of nitrous oxide (N2O) โ€“ an ozone-depleting gas (OGD). (9)

The bottom line is that too much ammonia in the water is problematic. In some regions, it has even been suggested that the amount of ammonia be measured in parts per billion instead of parts per million. (10)

Considerations

When considering the impacts of ammonia on fish and the environment, one must factor in a wide range of considerations. Aside from the obvious fact that too much ammonia can be detrimental, there are also ethical issues to consider when raising fish in captivity. (11)

The use of antimicrobials in fish farms, for example, is an important factor to consider. It’s already well known that many fish farms use antibiotics and other drugs to prevent the rise of bacteria which can be harmful to the fish. These drugs can enter the environment and pose a threat to humans who consume fish from such facilities. (12)

On a related note, farmed fish are high in fat and can cause heart disease when eaten in large quantities by humans. This was demonstrated by the high levels of cholesterol found in the serum of men who had consumed large quantities of farmed fish. (13)

One point which should be made is that the levels of ammonia in fish are usually much higher than most people would consider safe for aquatic life. This is primarily because most fish are already extremely nutritious for humans and have an exceptionally high growth rate. As a result, some experts believe that there is no need to supplement fish feed with additives which might lower the toxicity of the ammonia.

References:

(1) http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/education/heml/HEmlFishEnviron_1.pdf (2) http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/education/heml/HEmlFishEnviron_2.pdf (3) http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/education/heml/HEmlFishEnviron_3.pdf (4) http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/education/heml/HEmlFishEnviron_4.pdf (5) http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/education/heml/HEmlFishEnviron_5.pdf (6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19554078 (7) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9342782 (8) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11296208 (9) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17167950 (10) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17577198 (11) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_environment (12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_nutrition (13) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholesterol_and_farmed_fish

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