¹Norwegian College Of Fishery Science, Uit The Arctic University Of Norway, Tromsø, NOR
²Calanus AS, Tromsø, NOR

The zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus, is an herbivorous copepod present in massive amounts in the North Atlantic Ocean. It has a life span of 1 year and during the summer months, lipid-rich copepodite stages (C4 – C5) may be harvested in a sustainable manner. Oil (Calanus® Oil) is produced by the company Calanus AS and contains large amounts of the health promoting omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin. Contrary to other commercial marine oils, the fatty acids are mainly present as wax esters. During the enzyme-assisted oil extraction, three products are formed; an oil, a protein hydrolysate and a press cake (sludge). Properties of the latter is not very well known and the aims of this master project is to characterize the lipids present and to investigate the microbial and oxidative stability of the press cake. Such knowledge may contribute commercialization of this product and improve the bioeconomy.