In the last decades, aquaculture industry has progressively reduced its dependence on traditional ingredients of marine-origin, such as fishmeal and fish oil in favour of more sustainable alternatives, such as plant proteins and oils, single-cell proteins and oils, insects, and microalgae.
New raw materials are incorporated into feed formulas, to take an advantage of circular bioeconomy (Checa et al.), and to replace fish meals based on wild fish catches and imported soy-based raw materials (Tampou et al.). Moreover, selective breeding changes fish traits that are related to feed utilization and body composition, and hence also novel diets need to reflect these changed nutritional requirements.
The work by Terova et al. showed that feed raw materials made from insect larvae can be used to replace fish meals, with no negative effects on gut and skin microbiota in rainbow trout. Moreover, when compared to unselected European seabass, the microbiota and expression of genes in intestine of the fish originating from a breeding programme responded differently to a ‘future’ practical diet without any fish oil and with a low percentage of fish meal (Rimoldi et al.). This again reflects that microbiota can be influenced by the genetic background of the fish.
Presentations and e-posters presented in AE2020 related to this topic – see below
e-poster:
ASSESSMENT OF A “FUTURE PRACTICAL” DIET ON GUT MICROBIOTA OF GENETICALLY SELECTED OR NOT SELECTED STRAIN OF EUROPEAN SEA BASS (Dicentrarchus labrax)
S. Rimoldi, S. Torrecillas, D. Montero, A. Serradell, R. Fontanillas & G. Terova
The present study aimed to investigate the benefits of using a strain of European seabass selected for growth in a nutritional challenge with a “future” practical dietary formulation completely devoid of fishoil and with low percentage of fishmeal. The effects on gut microbiome and selected genes related with gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) functionality were studied.
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e-poster:
EFFECTS OF FULL REPLACEMENT OF DIETARY FISHMEAL WITH INSECT MEAL FROM Tenebrio molitor ON RAINBOW TROUT GUT AND SKIN MICROBIOTA
G. Terova, L. Gasco, F. Moroni, M. Antonini, M. Saroglia & S. Rimoldi
The data demonstrated that meal made of yellow mealworm larvae is a valid alternative to replace fish meal in aquafeeds. The total replacement of fish meal with larvae meal did not cause negative effects on rainbow trout gut and skin microbial communities.
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THE AQUACULUTRE SECTOR UNDER A CIRCULARITY APPROACH
D. Checa, M. Escamilla & I. Sanchez
no e-poster/video available
The projects have been designed, and is now being carried out, in order to implement circular principles and zero waste practices by qualifying new and sustainable organic value chains for feeds and valorisation of by-products.
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GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GILTHEAD SEABREAM (Sparus aurata) FED LOW FISHMEAL DIETS WITH INNOVATIVE INGREDIENTS
Α. Tampou, S. Andreopoulou, Ι. Νengas, Κ. Kousoulaki, Α. Vasilaki & E. Mente
no e-poster/video available
This study confirms that a mixture of innovative ingredients used for aquafeeds that can be grown on byproducts and waste of other agricultural industrial practices open new horizons for fishmeal replacement in fish feeds.