overflatefôring
overflatefôring is a feeding technique commonly used in aquaculture, particularly for species kept in marine or brackish water. The term is Norwegian and translates literally to “surface feeding.” It involves depositing feed pellets or other food substrates onto the surface of the water column rather than sinking them to the bottom. The feed is typically formulated to float or to rise quickly after being released, ensuring that it is accessible to surface‑swimming fish such as salmon, trout or sea bass.
This method is advantageous because it reduces benthic waste and sedimentation. By keeping feed above the substrate,
overflatefôring is usually performed using specialized feeding rigs or manually by divers or surface vessels. Pellets
Critics of overflatefôring argue that it can increase susceptibility to predation. Birds, gulls, and marine mammals
.overflatefôring remains a widely adopted and evolving practice in the global aquaculture industry.