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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Composting Fish

CabinOPinesResort

10 years ago

We are a fishing resort on Pelican Lake in Orr, MN. We are currently embroiled in a big movement towards sustainability which includes an expanded recycling program and a solar panel system going in this spring which will support up to 50% of our energy needs. Along with these projects, a composting system is also on our list of new projects.
The biggest hurdle we have is the large amount of fish waste that is produced by the resort every season. Currently the waste is buried on the property and has been for years. The fish waste along with lake weeds that wash up on the beach would make up the two main components of the compost pile. We have huge amounts of both weeds and fish.
We are curious as to whether anyone has ever had a large scale compost operation involving fish waste and lake weeks and whether the two components would decompose well together. An estimate on amounts would be around 500 gallons of fish waste and 5-10 truck loads of weeds.
We have the ability to build big boxes, and to keep them far enough away from the resort. We also have a skid steer we could turn the piles with. We just aren't sure as to the biology and whether it would compost or how to keep the smell down.

The soil would make the perfect addition to our seasonal garden!

Thank you

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Comments (7)

robertz6
10 years ago
I have two booklets where the purpose is composting fish material in situations such as yours. I think one is from Minn. and the other I can't remember where it is from.

If you can't find these sites on the web (say from googling 'composting fish'), let me know.
robertz6
10 years ago
A instructional video about fish waste composting is available from:
National Fisheries Institute
1525 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209
This article appeared in the Cornell Chronicle (08/11/94).

The following booklet is one of two I mentioned:

Composting fish waste: an alternative for Minnesota resorts
Thomas R. Halbach, Dale R. Baker, Minnesota Extension Service, Minnesota Sea Grant College Program
Minnesota Sea Grant College Program, University of Minnesota, 1991 - Gardening - 16 pages
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How apropos this discussion is. I collected a tub full of fish from a local fish store, not sure, but I'd say at least a 3-gallon tub, but could be larger than that. Anyway, I picked up the tub because I'd gotten all excited about composting after reading most of the threads on this forum. What I forgot to factor in at the time was that I needed lots & lots of browns. And I had virtually none. Quickly began scavenging for cardboard at local stores. Quickly found lots. In the interim, I left the tub where my new compost pile was to be and -- ugh, I can't believe I'm admitting this -- I forgot all about it. There was so much cardboard piled up 'round it that you no longer saw the tub. Until yesterday. Sigh. Absolutely. the. worst. smell. on. the. planet! I was ready as could be though. Much cardboard and newspaper, and I already had many huge bags of leaves. Alas, my DH raked up 2 more bags of magnolia leaves yesterday, and those were the ones he placed next to the tub for me. But when you're opening a many-weeks old tub of dead fish, you don't quibble about minor matters like that, believe me! In a few days, when I can stand the stink, I'll be adding many bags of paper scraps and tissues and such.
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josko021
10 years ago
I have very good luck composting ~400 lbs of fish waste in a 4'x4' pallet bin together with wood chips. I set up a base layer of woodchips and layer fish waste and chips, taking care to not deposit fish within 6" of bin walls. Finish off with ~6" of wood chips, and wire another pallet across the top when done. There is no objectionable odor outher than a little ammonia outgassing. I have had no issues with animals picking the pile apart, but then, i have a dog.
I suspect lake weeds might be greens, and would suggest that you stockpile wood chips, sawdust or another 'strong' brown for this composting project. Try a single pallet bin and see how it goes from there. I also believe it would work on a larger scale; again, wood chips are the key.
User
10 years ago
The problem with using the "lake weeds" is that they are wet and high nitrogen, as is the fish waste.

You need something dry and "brown", such as shredded paper, sawdust, wood chips or straw to layer in with the weeds and fish.
Kimmsr
10 years ago
You will need a source of a high Carbon material to offset the amount of high Nitrogen (fish and weeds) material you have to compost. The ratio should be about 3 parts browns, high Carbon material, to 1 part of the green, high Nitrogen, material.
That said, you could probably mix those weeds and fish residue together and compost them someplace fairly distant from your lodging since they will produce a quite unpleasant aroma and attract things such as possums, raccoons, bears, and skunks.
robertz6
10 years ago
Most of these systems for composting resort-amounts of fish will use wood chips as a base, a cover, and sometimes in the center.

The deer/large animal roadkill composts often use wood chips also.

Has the OP done any investigation in having wood chips/material delivered from a local tree cutting company or public utility?
mckenziek
10 years ago
I have zero experience with composting on this scale, but I have never heard of anyone trying to compost animal material (which is super N) without lots of straw or sawdust or something like that (a dry super C). I suspect that the water plants will actually be pretty high in N. A lot of water plants make very good food for fish or even livestock.

--McKenzie

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