Recent Advances in Nutrition and Metabolic Regulation of Fish

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 528

Special Issue Editors

Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Interests: fish nutrition; fish metabolism; environmental stress; oxidative stress

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: fish nutrition; metabolism; endocrinology

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University (Yangjiang Campus), Yangjiang 529500, China
Interests: nutrient sensing; quality of aquatic products; food nutrition and health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the nutritional requirements and metabolic regulation of fish, driven by the growing demand for sustainable aquaculture and high-quality aquatic products. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in fish growth, health, and metabolic efficiency, yet many aspects of nutrient utilization, metabolic pathways, and their interactions remain to be explored. Advances in feed formulation, functional additives, and alternative protein sources have opened new avenues for optimizing fish nutrition, but their impacts on metabolic homeostasis, energy homeostasis, and overall physiological performance require further investigation.

This Special Issue aims to compile research (original articles and reviews) on the latest developments in fish nutrition and metabolic regulation. We encourage submissions that elucidate the mechanisms by which dietary components influence growth performance, metabolic processes, and health outcomes in fish. Studies focusing on innovative dietary strategies, metabolic biomarkers, metabolic pathways, and nutritional interventions to enhance aquaculture sustainability are particularly welcome.

Scope and information for authors:

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Novel insights into nutrient metabolism (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) and their regulatory roles in fish physiology.
  • Metabolic adaptation to alternative feed ingredients (e.g., plant-based proteins, insect meal, single-cell proteins) and reduced fishmeal diets.
  • Functional feed additives (probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, phytogenics) and their effects on metabolic efficiency, gut health, and immune function.
  • Nutritional programming and epigenetic regulation of metabolism in fish.
  • Interplay between nutrition, metabolic hormones, and signaling pathways (e.g., insulin, mTOR, AMPK) in growth and nutrient utilization.
  • Dietary strategies to mitigate metabolic disorders (e.g., fatty liver, glucose intolerance) and improve stress resilience.

We look forward to your submissions to advance the understanding of fish nutrition and metabolic regulation for sustainable aquaculture.

Dr. Hongyan Li
Dr. Yulong Gong
Dr. Wenjie Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fish nutrition
  • metabolic adaptation
  • functional feed additives
  • novel feed ingredients

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 1041 KB  
Article
Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Low-Value Mediterranean Fish in Winter and Spring for Discard Valorization
by Aristeidis Tsopelakos and Helen Miliou
Fishes 2025, 10(9), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10090454 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 353
Abstract
Winter and Spring variations of the fat and fatty acid compositions of discards from six species of the Aegean Sea were investigated to assess the potential suitability for human or aquaculture consumption. European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), [...] Read more.
Winter and Spring variations of the fat and fatty acid compositions of discards from six species of the Aegean Sea were investigated to assess the potential suitability for human or aquaculture consumption. European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), curled picarel (Centracanthus cirrus), gilt sardine (Saridenella aurita), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) and bogue (Boops boops) were collected from the local fishing wharf during winter and spring. In most species, the specimens caught in spring exhibited elevated fat and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content, with Sardina pilchardus showing an increase in DHA from 13.59% to 16.06% and Engraulis encrasicolus from 20.36% to 23.41% of the total identified fatty acids. Despite their lower commercial value, the high n-3 LC-PUFA content renders them nutritionally valuable and eligible for use by the aquafeed industry as an alternative to the increasingly costly fish oil. Moreover, in accordance with EU legislation banning discards and mandating the landing of unwanted catches, the valorisation of these species, in line with circular economy principles, could enhance fishers’ income, reduce waste and contribute to the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nutrition and Metabolic Regulation of Fish)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop