Not all fish is created equal…..
At Regen Ag Nation, we’re on a mission to separate hype from hard data—because in the world of regenerative agriculture, every input matters. In our latest video, we took a deep dive (pun intended) into the world of fish hydrolysates, comparing three popular fish-based fertilizers using next-level biological testing to answer a simple question:
Which one actually performs in the soil?
The Lineup: 3 Fish Fertilizers Put to the Test
We selected three fish-based fertilizers from different parts of the Pacific Northwest and sent samples to Biome Makers (https://biomemakers.com/), a leading ag-tech company that uses DNA sequencing to analyze microbial life in soils and biological inputs. Their reports assess microbial functionality—how well the microbes in each product actually perform important tasks in the soil.
Here’s who went head-to-head:
- Econ Nutrients – Based in Crescent City, WA. Utilizes fish scraps and bones.
- BioWest Fish Plus – Produced in Idaho using land-based farmed trout.
- Pacific Gro Oceanic – A marine-based fish hydrolysate made from fish, crab, and shrimp with their oils and shells.
The Test: Functional Microbial Diversity
Biome Makers analyzed each product’s microbial DNA to calculate a Functionality Score from 1 to 10, reflecting how effectively the microbes perform critical soil functions like nitrogen cycling, carbon sequestration, and nutrient uptake.
Here’s how they scored:
| Product | Functionality Score (out of 10) |
| Econ Nutrients | 1.93 |
| BioWest Fish Plus | 1.64 |
| Pacific Gro Oceanic | 8.93 |
That’s not a typo. PacificGro Oceanic scored 8.93—a massive leap compared to the others.
Why PacificGro Stands Out
The secret lies in the diversity of raw ingredients and biological complexity of the product.
While Econ Nutrients and Bio-West rely heavily on fish scraps or farmed trout, Pacific Gro Oceanic pulls from the full buffet of marine resources: fish, oils, crab and shrimp shells—rich in chitin, a powerful fungal food source.
This diverse makeup feeds a broader range of soil microbes, especially fungi, which are often depleted in conventional systems. The presence of marine lipids, amino acids, and fats gives microbial communities the fuel they need to thrive, improving:
- Inorganic nitrogen utilization
- Carbon cycling
- Nutrient solubilization and uptake
- Fungal-to-bacterial balance in the soil
What This Means for Regenerative Growers
If you’re still using nitrogen in your system (and let’s face it—most are), your goal should be to maximize the impact of every pound applied. Products like Pacific Gro Oceanic can do just that by supporting the microbes responsible for nutrient processing and delivery.
In regenerative systems, diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s biology. This trial shows how dramatically a well-designed fish fertilizer can shift soil dynamics and improve input efficiency.
Our Takeaway
Not all fish fertilizers are created equal.
Before you spend another dollar, ask the critical question: What’s the biological return on this input?
At Regen Ag Nation, we’ll keep pushing for more transparency, more testing, and more impact—because regenerative ag isn’t about what the label says. It’s about what happens in the field.
Watch the full video breakdown here:
Watch on YouTube
