Fish Fertilizer Comes In Two Forms

Fish fertilizer is a by-product of the commercial fishing and fish farming industries. Much of it comes from cannery and fish packing waste, while some of the best is from catches of the menhaden fish, a relative of the sardine that is not edible by humans. It is caught solely for use as an animal feed supplement and as fertilizer.

Fish and fish waste are cooked, pressed and separated into solids, oils and liquids. The solids are dried to a brown powder or cake and that fish meal is used in animal feeds and as an organic fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, and also contains phosphorus and potassium. It is one of the primary ingredients in my secret garden gnome organic fertilizer recipe .

The oil is sold mostly to manufacturers of nutritional supplements, animal feeds and pet food.

The liquid, called stickwater, is boiled down to a sticky gummy substance called fish emulsion, used to make liquid fish fertilizer, that is used as an organic foliar feed for garden plants.

Nearly all of these products contain a small amount of the chemical additive, phosphoric acid. As long as it is less than 1% by volume, the product is still considered “Natural Organic.” The acid is used to reduce the pH to less than 4.5, which stops the enzymatic action that causes gas build up and creates a horrid smell. It keeps the product from smelling so bad.

Because the pH level is kept low, using these soil amendments may effect the soil pH , requiring the use of more garden lime .

With the liquid form, it seems you get what you pay for. The more expensive usually contains more pure fish emulsion, higher nutrient levels and fewer chemicals. The cheaper versions are long on chemicals and lower in nutrients.

Since most fish fertilizer comes from fish waste that would otherwise go to the landfill, using these products are both good for the planet and good for your garden.

Happy gardening,

Geefrank

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