Nutrition Requirements and Feed Development for Aquaculture Animals

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Feeding".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1143

Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: sustainable aquafeed; fishmeal and fish oil replacement; functional feed additives; trophic cascade; eutrophication

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Conservation and Utilization of Fishes Resources in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Life Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, China
Interests: aquatic animal nutrition; aquaculture feeds; feed ingredients; Chinese medicinal herbs

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Guest Editor
Department of Aquaculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: aquaculture nutrition and feed; fish genetics and breeding; healthy aquaculture; smart aquaculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Interests: aquatic animal nutrition; aquaculture feeds; feed ingredients

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue addresses the critical challenge of developing sustainable aquafeeds to support the global aquaculture industry's growth. The main goal is to drive innovation that reduces reliance on finite marine resources, enhances animal health, and minimizes environmental impact. The issue’s scope broadly encompasses the entire field, from defining precise nutrient requirements for diverse species to pioneering novel feed formulations. Specific areas of interest will include but are not limited to the following:

Precision Nutrient Requirements: Defining the precise requirements for protein, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals for various aquaculture species.

Novel and Alternative Feed Ingredients: Investigating the potential of alternative protein and lipid sources, such as insect meal, single-cell proteins (yeast, bacteria, microalgae, et al), plant-based proteins, and by-product valorization from agri-food and fisheries industries. This includes assessing their nutritional value, palatability, and digestibility, etc.

Feed Additives and Functionality: Exploring the role of non-nutritive additives, including probiotics, prebiotics, organic minerals, immunostimulants (e.g., β-glucans), and phytogenics, as well as Chinese herbs and their extracts, in enhancing feed quality, growth performance, gut health, disease resistance, and stress tolerance, etc.

Environmental Sustainability: Evaluating novel feed formulations, including assessments of waste output (nitrogen and phosphorus), carbon footprint, and the overall Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of aquafeeds.

Dr. Huijuan Tang
Dr. Huatao Li
Prof. Dr. Jun Jiang
Prof. Dr. Qihui Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • feed additives
  • precision nutrient requirements
  • novel feed ingredients
  • environment friendly feed
  • Chinese herbs and their extracts

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 2152 KB  
Article
Anti-Mold and Water Retention Effects of Extracts of Pomegranate Peel on Pellet Feeds and Their Impact on Biochemical Indicators in Tissues and Organs of Cyprinus carpio var. Jian
by Haijing Liu, Miaomiao Wang, Junhao Huang, Jiang Li, Chunyan Zheng, Huan Zhang, Jing Xu, Qihui Yang, Gangfu Chen and Huatao Li
Fishes 2026, 11(4), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040216 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 575
Abstract
This research was conducted to evaluate the impacts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) peel extract (PPE) on the mold growth and moisture content in pellet feeds, as well as the biochemical indicators in tissues and organs of fish. Firstly, six types of [...] Read more.
This research was conducted to evaluate the impacts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) peel extract (PPE) on the mold growth and moisture content in pellet feeds, as well as the biochemical indicators in tissues and organs of fish. Firstly, six types of pellet feeds were formulated by adding 0% or 0.5% of pomegranate peel powder (PP), petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE), ethanol extract (EE), or aqueous extract (AQE) of PP. Moisture content was determined by air-drying 10 g of wet pellet feed from each treatment at 60 °C for 48 h in uniform-sized Petri dishes. Mold growth was evaluated by homogenizing 15 g of 12-week stored pellet feed with 15 mL of purified water, incubating at 25 °C for 4 days, and recording mold growth. The results indicated that PP, PEE, EE, and AQE reduced the mold growth in pellet feeds (p < 0.05). PP, EAE, EE, and AQE increased the moisture content in pellet feeds. Among all additives, EE has the strongest effects on the mold growth and moisture content in feeds (p < 0.05). According to regression analysis of mold and moisture levels, the optimal EE supplementation levels in pellet feeds were evaluated to be 1.284% and 1.485%, respectively. Then, 420 carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian, mean initial weight 12.01 ± 0.53 g) were fed diets formulated with EE at graded inclusion levels (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8%) over a 15-day period. The findings indicated that dietary EE improved the digestive and absorptive function in carp (p < 0.05), and this improvement was closely correlated with the upregulated activities of digestive and absorptive enzymes and the strengthened antioxidant capability in carp’s digestive tissues. Regression analysis of feed intake rate indicated that the optimal EE level suitable for carp is 0.906%. Furthermore, dietary EE enhanced the respiratory capacity by improving functional metabolic enzyme activity and antioxidant defense in the respiration-related tissues and organs of fish (p < 0.05). In summary, supplement EE increases the moisture content, inhibits the mold growth in pellet feeds, and improves the respiratory, digestive, and absorptive functions in fish, providing a valuable insight for PEE use as a naturally functional raw material in fish feeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Requirements and Feed Development for Aquaculture Animals)
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