Improving the feasibility of aquaculture feed by using microalgae

Jun 26, 2021Environmental science and pollution research international

Making fish farming feed more practical by using microalgae

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Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

The cost of aquaculture feed accounts for 40-75% of total production expenses.

Microalgae could serve as a viable alternative feed ingredient in aquaculture due to their high nutritional value.
Major components of microalgal biomass include proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, pigments, and bioactive compounds.
The review highlights the potential of using live algae culture, whole algae, and lipid-extracted algae in fish feed.
Integrated processes like algae cultivation in aquaculture wastewater and aquaponics systems may enhance microalgae's application in feed.
Challenges and future prospects of incorporating microalgae into the aquafeed industry are discussed.

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The aquaculture industry is an efficient edible protein producer and grows faster than any other food sector. Therefore, it requires enormous amounts of fish feed. Fish feed directly affects the quality of produced fish, potential health benefits, and cost. Fish meal (FM), fis oil (FO), and plant-based supplements, predominantly used in fish feed, face challenges of low availability, low nutritional value, and high cost. The cost associated with aquaculture feed represents 40-75% of aquaculture production cost and one of the key market drivers for the thriving aquaculture industry. Microalgae are a primary producer in aquatic food chains. Microalgae are expanding continuously in renewable energy, pharmaceutical pigment, wastewater treatment, food, and feed industries. Major components of microalgal biomass are proteins with essential amino acids, lipids with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), carbohydrates, pigments, and other bioactive compounds. Thus, microalgae can be used as an essential, viable, and alternative feed ingredient in aquaculture feed. In recent times, live algae culture, whole algae, and lipid-extracted algae (LEA) have been tested in fish feed for growth, physiological activity, and nutritional value. The present review discusses the potential application of microalgae in aquaculture feed, its mode of application, nutritional value, and possible replacement of conventional feed ingredients, and disadvantages of plant-based feed. The review also focuses on integrated processes such as algae cultivation in aquaculture wastewater, aquaponics systems, challenges, and future prospects of using microalgae in the aquafeed industry.

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Improving the feasibility of aquaculture feed by using microalgae

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