ORGANIC FISH FERTILIZERS
by Carole Schwalm

Fish fertilizer, dating back to ancient Egypt, North America and other indigenous populations, was rediscovered in the 20th century.

The fertilizer contains the nitrogen that plants need for chlorophyll production, while stimulating microorganisms in the soil that also feed plants. With recent uncertain weather, fish fertilizer eases plant stress to environmental conditions. As if there were enough, here’s more! Happy plants produce more with enhanced flavor. Flowers are prettier. You see new life in your old lawn.

There are several types:
• Fish Meal: fish carcasses are heated and then ground, creating high nitrogen content. The main challenge is the odor – something important in a closed environment.

• Fish Emulsion: often contains leftovers unused in fish meal and that can mean fewer nutrients. Also, fish may be taken from toxic areas. Not all are, but it is important to read the labels.

• Fish Hydrolysates: Nothing is removed, and the product contains unheated, and very beneficial fish oils. Heat involves a loss of potency, and that is what you want.

We’ve had good luck with fish fertilizer so it is something I can recommend that you try. We’ve used it on everything but a lawn – only because we do not have one :-)


For more information, read how our organic fertilizer experiment turned out in our Fertilizers & Compost article.

Also visit our other fertilizer articles, Organic Fertilizer and Organic Fertilizers.