Alternative protein sources in aquafeed: Current scenario and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture
• Animal Nutrition
• Sustainable Feed Development

Background:

• Fish meal is a primary protein source in aquaculture due to its high nutritional value.
• Rising costs and limited availability of fish meal necessitate exploring alternative protein sources.
• Aquatic species welfare and growth performance are significantly impacted by feed composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the efficacy of fish meal alternatives in aquaculture.
• To assess the impact of various protein sources on fish health, welfare, and growth.
• To identify optimal inclusion levels and potential synergistic effects of alternative protein sources.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies on fish meal replacement in aquatic feeds.
• Analysis of inclusion levels for plant- and animal-derived protein sources (10-80% and 2-100%, respectively).
• Evaluation of effects on fish health, growth performance, welfare, and fillet quality.

Main Results:

• Partial or complete replacement of fish meal with alternative sources positively influenced fish health, welfare, and growth.
• Optimal inclusion levels are critical; exceeding them can negatively impact fish physiology and metabolism.
• Mixing diverse protein sources may offer synergistic nutritional benefits.

Conclusions:

• Alternative protein sources can effectively replace fish meal in aquaculture feeds.
• Optimizing the blend of different protein sources is key for future feed formulations.
• Further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps regarding novel protein sources for various aquatic species.