In a recently published study, we show for the first time that Atlantic salmon can synthesize vitamin D3 endogenously when exposed to sunlight. This surprising finding changes our understanding of vitamin D metabolism in salmon and has important implications for modern aquaculture. First, we discovered that salmon shortly after being released into open-air cages in the sea had significantly higher levels of circulating vitamin D in plasma compared to fish produced in indoor f

In 2023, FishLab developed a new analytical method for the quantification of thyroxine (T4) and selected steroid hormones in fish plasma. The method is based on LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry), and provides high specificity, sensitivity and analytical robustness when analyzing low hormone levels in complex biological matrices.

From the moment the fish is caught until the blood sample is taken, the level of stress hormones in the blood can have risen 1,000 percent. In the feces, however, the level of stress hormones is more stable, which can provide a more reliable and accurate picture of the underlying stress level of the fish. When explaining adverse events in the aquaculture industry, stress is often cited as a triggering or contributing factor. Stress levels are traditionally documented through

Using a recently published analysis method, the stress level of smolt was examined 4-8 days after release. The level of cortisol metabolites in feces was as much as ten times higher than normal immediately after exposure, and a majority of fish still had elevated stress levels 8 days after exposure. However, the analyses also showed that stress levels decreased rapidly and that the fish were significantly less stressed 8 days after exposure compared to 4 days after exposure.

A new analytical method for measuring stress in fish was recently published in the scientific journal Molecules. The article is based on Vanessa Meling's master's project, which was a collaboration between Oslo Metropolitan University, the University of Stavanger and Fishlab AS. The work was carried out at FishLab AS in Stavanger, where Vanessa developed and validated a new LC-MS/MS method for detection and quantification of cortisol metabolites in feces from Atlantic salmon.