Fish/Shellfish Based Nutrients

Available in dry and liquid formulations, fish based fertilizers and nutrients are useful additions to increase soil fertility. Since fish-derived nutrients contain high amounts of complex organic compounds, they feed both plants and soil microorganisms over time. This two-pronged effect makes fish fertilizers suitable for organic gardeners and farmers looking to build soil health and steer clear of chemical inputs.

What's In It?

Fish fertilizers use the parts of the fish that we don't want to eat – bones, scales, skin, etc. These parts are ground into a slurry with the liquid being used as fish emulsion and the solids being repurposed as fish meal fertilizers and animal feeds. Hydrolyzed fish emulsions are available and claim to be odor-free. By retaining natural amino acids, these enzyme-treated emulsions provide more plant-available nutrient content than heat-treated alternatives.

  • Fish Meal: ground, dried fish waste that is slow to break down. Generally high in nitrogen & phosphorous, it is made for soil applications.
  • Liquid Fish Emulsions: water-soluble and made as a fast-acting fertilizer. May render some nutrients unavailable through heat treatment.
  • Hydrolyzed Fish: enzymatically digested and maintains readily available nutrient content to plants.