Is Fish Fertilizer Toxic?

Dead fish

Fish fertilizer is a nitrogen rich and non-toxic soil amendment. By following application instructions and burying any fish waste away from pets any harmful encounters can be avoided.

Types

Fish fertilizer can either be applied as a store bought liquid emulsion or home composted fish remains. Fish parts such as bone, heads and scales can be buried and added to soil to fertilize backyard plants and gardens.

Considerations

Liquid fish emulsion must be diluted properly before application to home gardens to prevent over fertilization or toxicity. Typically fish emulsions can be diluted at a rate of 1 tbsp. per gallon of water.

Warning

If adding discarded fish parts to soil, bury the parts where home pets will not have digging access. Fish waste can harbor bacteria which cause salmon poisoning in pets such as dogs.

Expert Insight

Organic commercial fish emulsion fertilizers are generally at least 1 percent synthetic. Chemical fertilizers are added to fish emulsions to prevent potentially explosive properties in store packaged bottles.

Fun Fact

Burying a dead fish from a home aquarium in a house plant can provide a nitrogen boost for the plant. Watering house plants with dirty aquarium water also releases safe nitrogen fertilizer into plant roots.

References

• Garden Guides: How to Use Fish Waster Fertilizer
• Rainy Side Gardeners: How a Fish Become Fertilizer