Insects in Aquaculture Nutrition: An Emerging Eco-Friendly Approach or Commercial Reality?

Animal-origin food production presents an accelerated growth worldwide due to an increase in human demand. The aquaculture sector is one of the major players in terms of volume of animal protein production, and the availability of feedstuff to supply aquaculture feed (aquafeed) chain will be one of the main challenges for the next decades. Aquafeeds are mostly based on cereals, oilseeds, and marine-origin ingredients. The competition for feedstuff from the terrestrial animal industries such as pet, poultry, and swine challenges the profitability of aquafeeds, and complimentary ingredients need to be found. Many studies have focused on alternative protein sources, but the benefits of plant proteins, microorganisms-based, and diverse animal by-products are still under intense investigation to address some constraints including antinutritional factors and unbalanced nutrient profile. In this sense, the use of insects on the nutrition of aquatic animals could be an alternative. This chapter was elaborated to be an introductory reading for both academic and private sector and will discuss (i) the benefits of insects in animal nutrition, (ii) elucidate the nutritional aspects of different insect meals, (iii) bring some practical developments on aquatic nutrition, and finally (iv) discourse about constraints on insect use and its future perspectives

ALTERNATIVE LIPIDS IN NUTRITION OF MARINE FINFISH

Fish oil sparing and replacement is a major focus in the fields of aquaculture and aquaculture nutrition. Most of the commercial fish oil production is consumed by the aquafeed industry due to its highly digestible energy and elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs; ARA – 20:4n-6, EPA – 20:5n-3, and DHA – 22:6n-3), being a valuable ingredient. Given the finite supply and the growing demand for fish oil its price has increased quite drastically, leading to the search for alternative lipid sources. Generally, vegetable- and terrestrial animal-origin alternatives lack LC-PUFAs, which are physiologically important nutrients for all fish, and considered essential fatty acids for carnivorous species. When fish oil is spared or replaced by alternative lipids fish survival, growth performance, and fish health are commonly impaired if adequate levels of essential fatty acids are not provided within feeds. Additionally, fish oil sparing typically distorts fillet fatty acid profile and associated nutritional value compared to a fish oil-based diet reflecting the composition of the alternative lipid used. It is clear that to address the fish oil bottleneck in aquafeed manufacturing, researchers must understand the essential fatty acid requirements of the key commercial fish species. Fatty acid essentiality in fish has been investigated, and there is preliminary evidence that not all LC-PUFAs may be equally required, with DHA being more important, and EPA being more expendable. Whereas ARA has not been investigated in the same extent as n-3 LC-PUFAs. Additionally, certain fatty acids groupings such as saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) may influence LC-PUFAs bioavailability, and in some cases maintain or enhance LC-PUFAs deposition. The current dissertation sought to provide new knowledge regarding LC-PUFA requirements of marine carnivorous fish (White Seabass Atractoscion nobilis, California Yellowtail Seriola lalandi and Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus) in the context of C18 PUFA-rich (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acid with chain length of 18 carbon atoms) and SFA- and MUFA-rich alternative lipids. Determine if all LC-PUFAs (ARA, EPA, DHA) are equally important in meeting fatty acids requirements and also determine the effects of dietary SFA, MUFA, and C18 PUFA content in fish oil sparing and tissue deposition of LC-PUFAs. The overall findings highlighted that DHA and ARA appear to be the primary drivers of fatty acid essentiality, whereas EPA is likely required in minor amounts. It was also demonstrated that DHA/EPA ratio had little-to-no effect on fish performance. Additionally, LC-PUFA requirements seem to be more flexible than previously assumed being influenced by dietary fatty acid profile. LC-PUFAs in marine finfish are more bioavailable in the context of SFA-/MUFA-rich alternative lipids, thus, reducing the requirements for these nutrients and allowing the fish’s physiological demand to be met with dietary levels below the minimum levels recommended. Finally, these findings suggest that although marine fish accept a variety of alternative lipids, those rich in SFAs and/or MUFAs seem advantageous in terms of limiting the effects of fish oil sparing on tissue fatty acid profiles

Outbreak of mortality among cage-reared cobia (Rachycentron canadum) associated with parasitism

This study reports a disease outbreak among juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) farmed in cages in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, caused by the dinoflagellate Amyloodinium ocellatum and the monogenean Neobenedenia melleni. Two thousand five hundred fish were stocked at 0.4 kg/m3 in a set of 12 m3 tanks, in autumn (mean weight 15.0 ± 7.3 g) and in winter (mean weight 43.0 ± 5.6 g). Freshwater baths were administered as a routine treatment, as the symptoms were detected followed by two collection samples. Firstly in May 2011 (n = 5) and secondly in September 2011 (n = 10). In the first sample, the prevalence of N. mellenion the body surface was 100% and the mean intensity was 42.0 ± 1.7, while in the second sample the prevalence was 60% with a mean intensity 3.0 ± 0.2 and mean abundance 1.8 ± 0.4. Amyloodinium ocellatum was only found in the second sample, at a prevalence 100% and mean intensity 46.8 ± 3.4. The cause of fish mortality was possibly associated with a decrease in fish resistance after the first contact with monogenean parasites, allied with respiratory difficulty caused by the presence of A. ocellatum in the gills

Common moist diet replacement to promote sustainable Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus) near- shore farming in Brazil

Cobia is one of the most promising warm water aquaculture species. In Brazil, cobia farming began in 2008 in the state of Rio de Janeiro from experimental scale facilities to regular near-shore farms based on fresh/frozen fish diets composed mostly of Sardinella sp. Despite the encouraging results achieved in the promotion of sustainable cobia farming, we advocate the replacement of fresh/frozen fish by a practical formulated feed. This experiment evaluated the zootechnical performance and environmental efficiency of moist and practical formulated feeds in early grow-out phases in the cycle of cobia nearshore cage culture. Four hundred and twenty juvenile cobia (151 ± 7 g) were fed with moist feed and practical formulated feed for 56 days. Biometrics were taken every two weeks and diets were analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid composition and pellet quality. Although growth performance was equivalent between treatments, feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were different (p < 0.05) and varied according to water temperature. Cobia fed moist feed exhibited an FCR two times higher than those fed formulated feed. Elevated settling speed and low floatability contributed to higher heterogeneity and lower efficiency of fish fed moist diet. Nitrogen excretion rate was reduced (64 %) and protein efficiency ratio elevated (27 %) within formulated diet groups in comparison to those fed moist diet (79 % and 15 %, respectively). The fatty acid profile of cobia muscle was similar across the groups. With no negative effects of diet substitution on production performance and improvement of environmental efficiency, this approach can be applied and advocated globally and contribute to the responsible intensification of sustainable marine fish culture

Common moist diet replacement to promote sustainable Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus) near- shore farming in Brazil

ABSTRACT: Cobia is one of the most promising warm water aquaculture species. In Brazil, cobia farming began in 2008 in the state of Rio de Janeiro from experimental scale facilities to regular near-shore farms based on fresh/frozen fish diets composed mostly of Sardinella sp. Despite the encouraging results achieved in the promotion of sustainable cobia farming, we advocate the replacement of fresh/frozen fish by a practical formulated feed. This experiment evaluated the zootechnical performance and environmental efficiency of moist and practical formulated feeds in early grow-out phases in the cycle of cobia nearshore cage culture. Four hundred and twenty juvenile cobia (151 ± 7 g) were fed with moist feed and practical formulated feed for 56 days. Biometrics were taken every two weeks and diets were analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid composition and pellet quality. Although growth performance was equivalent between treatments, feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were different (p < 0.05) and varied according to water temperature. Cobia fed moist feed exhibited an FCR two times higher than those fed formulated feed. Elevated settling speed and low floatability contributed to higher heterogeneity and lower efficiency of fish fed moist diet. Nitrogen excretion rate was reduced (64 %) and protein efficiency ratio elevated (27 %) within formulated diet groups in comparison to those fed moist diet (79 % and 15 %, respectively). The fatty acid profile of cobia muscle was similar across the groups. With no negative effects of diet substitution on production performance and improvement of environmental efficiency, this approach can be applied and advocated globally and contribute to the responsible intensification of sustainable marine fish culture