Frequently Asked Questions

Bio Marinus™ is a liquid organic fertiliser made from the offal of NZ Quota Management System-managed inshore fish catch, processed in Christchurch by United Fisheries Ltd. Fish offal is hydrolysed overnight using enzymes - a low-temperature process that preserves the natural fish oils, minerals and bioactive peptides that high-heat rendering destroys. The result is a stable, nutrient-rich liquid with a balanced NPK profile, a full trace element suite and 7-10% retained fish oil.

Most fish emulsions are produced using high heat or chemical solvents, which strip out the fish oils and break down the bioactive peptides - leaving mainly a nitrogen source. Bio Marinus™ uses a cold enzymatic process that keeps the oils, the hydrolysed fish bone (7-10%) and the full range of amino acids and peptides intact. These components feed soil microbes, chelate minerals and stimulate plant growth in ways a simple nitrogen source cannot.

Bio Marinus™ is manufactured at United Fisheries Ltd's processing plant in Wigram, Christchurch. The raw material is fish processing offal from United Fisheries Ltd's NZ Quota Management System-managed inshore catch - no imported fish or fish meal is used. Species reflect New Zealand's inshore fisheries.

Bio Marinus™ has a mild fishy odour at full concentration. Once diluted and applied, it disperses quickly - typically within a few hours in open pastoral conditions. It is significantly less pungent than conventional fish emulsions and dissipates faster than most manure-based products.

Yes, the products are sustainably made in New Zealand and derived from responsibly managed fishing resources regulated under the NZ Quota Management System. The manufacturing process makes full use of fish processing by-products, ensuring an environmentally responsible solution from start to finish. All products are BioGro certified organic inputs.

Bio Marinus™ offers several natural solutions, including:

• Hydrolysed Fish Fertiliser: A blend of fish hydrolysate, humate, and seaweed. BioGro certified and also available in JAS approved options.
• Biological Liquid Fish Fertiliser: Combines fish hydrolysate, humate, seaweed, and added biology.
• Cal-Sea+: A liquified fish bone product designed to provide natural mineral supplements sourced from New Zealand's waters.
• Fish Silage: Enzymatically hydrolysed liquid fish silage.

Bio Marinus™ enzymatically hydrolysed liquid fish fertiliser provides numerous agricultural benefits. It boosts plant productivity, improves pasture quality, feeds soil biology, and supports natural growth. It is also entirely safe for animals. Notably, testimonials suggest that using Bio Marinus™ can help serious growers achieve the same or better yields while using significantly less urea.

Bio Marinus™ supports biological farming and is suitable for a wide range of agricultural sectors. It is successfully used in dairy farming, sheep and beef farming, cropping, and viticulture. It is also utilized by specialty growers, such as tree nurseries.

Both start with the same enzymatic fish hydrolysate base. The Biological product adds a live microbial inoculant - Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma spp. and mycorrhizal fungi. The Biological product is best suited to soils that need rebuilding: recently cultivated ground, new grass, recovering pastures or soils coming out of intensive use. For well-managed, biologically active soils, the standard Hydrolysed product is often sufficient and more cost-effective.

CAL-SEA+ is a specialist calcium and phosphorus product made from enzymatically dissolved fish bone. Use it where you need to address calcium deficiency or support fruit set and cell-wall integrity. It works well alongside the standard hydrolysate: the Hydrolysed or Biological product provides broad nutrition and biology, while CAL-SEA+ delivers targeted calcium at key crop growth stages.

Only if your crop requires direct Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) certification - for example, fresh produce destined for export to Japan. Our standard and Biological products are BioGro-certified with JAS equivalency recognition, but carry a use restriction for fresh produce requiring crop-level JAS certification. The JAS Approved products carry no such restriction. For all other organic systems - including EU, USDA NOP and BioGro - the standard products are fully compliant.

Yes. Bio Marinus™ works well as part of a blended programme. Canterbury pasture trials found that combining 7.5 L/ha Bio Marinus™ with approximately 50% of the standard urea-N rate matched the dry-matter yield of a full urea-only programme - with measurably better calcium and magnesium levels in the harvested pasture. We recommend trialling in side-by-side strips before changing your whole-farm programme.

• Sheep & beef: 3 applications × 15-20L/ha per year. Suggested timing: early spring, midsummer, and early autumn.
• Dairy: 3 applications × 15-20L/ha per year. Suggested timing: early spring, midsummer, and early autumn.

• Cropping: 15-20L/ha soil-applied pre-plant. 3-4L/ha foliar at 1:100 dilution, 3-4 times per crop at key growth stages.
• Horticulture: 15-20L/ha soil drench 4-6 times per year; 3-4L/ha foliar at 1:100, or 4L/ha via fertigation, every 10-14 days during active growth.
• Viticulture: 15-20L/ha ground-applied over prunings, at spring budburst and post-harvest; plus 4L/ha fertigation or 3-4L/ha foliar (1:100) every 10-14 days in-season, minimum 4 applications.

Bio Marinus is refined to 200 micron and suitable for use with conventional boom sprayers, knapsack sprayers, drench guns and fertigation or trickle irrigation systems. It flows freely through standard nozzles and lines without blocking. We recommend rinsing equipment thoroughly after use.

The natural fish oil in the product acts as a surfactant, improving coverage and leaf uptake when used as a foliar spray — in many cases removing the need for a separate wetting agent.

For soil application, Bio Marinus can be injected through irrigation systems or applied with a boom ahead of cultivation. During ground application we recommend the addition of 2kg of industrial sugar, or 2 litres of molasses per hectare, as it may help speed up biological response.

For livestock feeding, the Fish Silage line can be metered through a dosing pump into water troughs or mixed directly into feed.

Bio Marinus™ is compatible with most fungicides, insecticides, nutritional sprays, seaweed extracts and humic/fulvic acids. Do not mix with selective herbicides. Always do a small jar test before blending a full tank load with any new product. The fish oil component acts as a natural surfactant, so you may be able to reduce or eliminate a separate wetting agent from your foliar programme.

Avoid applying at mid-day when temperatures exceed 25°C, and never spray during flowering or pollination. For viticulture, allow 24 hours clearance before forecast rain. Always mix only what you'll use that day - never store diluted product. Rinse booms and tanks thoroughly after use as fish oil residue can accumulate. No special PPE is required for normal handling; gloves and eye protection are recommended when handling concentrate.

Yes. All Bio Marinus™ products hold BioGro Licence 5252, New Zealand's leading organic certification. The certificate carries equivalency recognition for the EU, Great Britain, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, USDA NOP and Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) organic programmes. All products are also Fertmark-registered with the NZ Fertiliser Quality Council.

For most certified organic operations - BioGro, EU organic, USDA NOP - the standard Hydrolysed or Biological products are appropriate. If your supply chain requires direct crop-level JAS certification (for example, fresh produce for Japan), use the JAS Approved products, which carry no JAS use restriction. If you're unsure, contact us with the details of your certification and we'll advise the right product.

Bio Marinus™ Liquid Fish Silage is approved for pigs, poultry and ruminants (calves and lambs). 

Lincoln University research found that sheep fed Bio Marinus™ fish silage produced 33% less enteric methane over 24 hours in respiration chamber studies. In dairy cows, milk fat showed a 16% increase in EPA, a significant rise in DHA, and an 87% increase in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). A 2022 Lincoln University study confirmed that the methane-effective dose did not reduce dry matter intake, fibre digestibility or increase nitrogen excretion - improving overall nitrogen-use efficiency.

Lincoln University testing found no detectable milk taint and no negative effect on milk production volume at any dose tested. No cow health issues were observed. The research did identify measurable improvements in the omega-3 fatty acid profile of the milk fat.

Bio Marinus™ is available in 1000L IBC, 200L drum and 20L container sizes across all products. Order direct through our online shop at biomarinus.co.nz. For large orders, pickups, or farm delivery enquiries, contact us directly.

Store in the original container in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight. Shelf life is 24 months from the production date when stored correctly. Never dilute and store - mix only what you need and apply the same day. Keep out of reach of children. The product is non-hazardous and biodegradable.

Yes - the Bio Marinus team offers on-farm visits to help you get the most out of the product in your specific system. We can advise on programme design, application timing and tank mixing for your enterprise. Contact us through the website or call 03 343 0587 to arrange a visit.