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Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement

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A Special Issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888) belonging to the section "Nutrition and Feeding".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 4773

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Dr. Chang'an Wang

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Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Immune Technology of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, China
Interests: coldwater fish; nutrition; feed

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scarcity and rising cost of marine-derived ingredients pose a major challenge to the sustainable development of aquaculture. Consequently, replacing fish meal and fish oil with cost-effective, sustainable alternatives—such as plant proteins, insect meals, single-cell proteins, and processing by-products—has become the industry’s primary focus. However, high levels of substitution often lead to reduced growth, enteritis, and compromised flesh quality due to anti-nutritional factors and amino acid imbalances.

This Special Issue, “Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement,” aims to address the physiological and technical bottlenecks associated with novel ingredient utilization. We invite high-quality research exploring the following:

Evaluation of emerging raw materials: Efficacy of insect meal, microbial biomass, and fermented plant ingredients.
Nutritional strategies: Use of functional additives (e.g., enzymes, bile acids, and probiotics) to improve nutrient digestibility and mitigate anti-nutritional effects.
Physiological responses: Impacts of alternative diets on gut health, immune function, and lipid metabolism.
Flesh quality: How alternative ingredients affect the texture and nutritional value of the final product.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide scientific evidence to maximize the inclusion rates of alternative ingredients without compromising fish health or quality.

Dr. Chang'an Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

fish meal replacement
alternative plant proteins
insect meal
single-cell protein
anti-nutritional factors
gut health
flesh quality
nutrient digestibility
functional feed additives
sustainable aquaculture

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 3000 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Dietary Glycerol Monolaurate Supplementation Enhances Growth Performance and Intestinal Health in Hybrid Grouper (♀ Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × ♂ E. lanceolatus)

by Shouguo Yang, Donghui Zhang, Hebert Ely Vasquez, Fen Cheng, Xiangyu Wu, Luqing Pan and Xianming Tang

Fishes 2026, 11(9), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11090519 - 2 Sep 2026

Viewed by 243

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of glycerol monolaurate (GML) on the growth performance, physiological efficacy, intestinal structure, and microbiota of hybrid juvenile ♀ Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × ♂ E. lanceolatus. A total of 594 groupers were administered diets supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 g/kg of GML over an 80-day period. The findings indicated that the group receiving 4 g/kg GML supplementation demonstrated significantly enhanced growth performance, as evidenced by increased weight gain, specific growth rate, and a reduced feed conversion ratio compared with the control and other experimental groups. This growth enhancement was associated with elevated catalase and glutathione levels, suggesting improved antioxidant capacity that may contribute to enhanced immune function. Furthermore, fish in the 4 g/kg group exhibited increased digestive enzyme activity and significantly improved intestinal morphology, characterized by thicker muscular layers and a greater fold width and height. Furthermore, compared with the control group, GML supplementation elevated the relative abundance of Proteobacteria while reducing that of Firmicutes at the phylum level. At the genus level, GML markedly suppressed the relative abundance of Mycoplasma and Vibrio. These compositional alterations are potentially linked to improved energy acquisition and a decreased risk of pathogenic infections. Collectively, these results reveal that GML acts as a promising functional feed additive to boost growth performance, optimize digestive capacity, and sustain intestinal structural integrity in hybrid grouper. Based on these results, the optimal GML supplementation dose was determined to be 4 g/kg, providing valuable insights into the role of GML in aquaculture practices for hybrid grouper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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16 pages, 6880 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fortifying Depurated Clams: Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Nutritional Impact of Microencapsulated Diets Containing Nannochloropsis sp. and Vitamin Supplementation

by Vitória Pereira, Sílvia F. S. Pires, Pedro Bem-Haja, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Luís E. C. Conceição, Mário Pacheco and Rui J. M. Rocha

Fishes 2026, 11(9), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11090508 - 28 Aug 2026

Viewed by 228

Abstract

Conventional bivalve depuration protocols may compromise organoleptic and nutritional quality, largely as a consequence of fasting. This study investigates an innovative post-depuration feeding strategy in the clam Ruditapes decussatus using microencapsulated diets containing Nannochloropsis sp. supplemented with either a standard dose of vitamins C and E (MV) or a high dose—4× the standard level—of these vitamins (MV⁺). A three-phase experiment was conducted comprising 24 h of depuration, 2 h of post-depuration feeding, and 6 days of refrigerated storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Clams were sampled after feeding (PF) and after refrigerated storage (PS) and assessed for condition index (CI), vitamin C and E contents, antioxidant defense markers, including catalase activity (CAT) and total glutathione (tGSH), and oxidative damage, assessed through lipid peroxidation (LPO). CI did not differ significantly among dietary treatments. At PF, dietary treatment modulated antioxidant-related responses, particularly in the MV⁺ group. In the digestive gland, MV⁺ showed significantly lower LPO than the Control at PF, whereas after refrigerated storage this response was reversed. These findings indicate that the potential benefits associated with vitamin-enriched post-depuration feeding were not fully retained, with increased LPO at PS indicating greater oxidative damage. Further research is required to optimize this feeding strategy and evaluate its feasibility at commercial scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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21 pages, 11859 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dietary Astragalus membranaceus and Atractylodes macrocephala Extracts on Juvenile Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Possible Associations Among Intestinal Microbiota Homeostasis, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Oxidative Stress, and Growth Performance

by Yang Guo, Mingguo Lu, Weidong Xu, Hao Liu, Silei Xia, Hongyan Tian, Zhiqiang Xu, Jianhua Ming, Jing Chen, Heyun Yang, Bo Liu, Hui Cao, Wuxiao Zhang and Aimin Wang

Fishes 2026, 11(9), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11090505 - 27 Aug 2026

Viewed by 199

Abstract

Astragalus membranaceus and Atractylodes macrocephala are traditional Chinese medicinal herbs known for their potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties; however, their effects on the growth performance, muscle composition, and intestinal microbiota of aquatic animals remain poorly understood. A total of 480 healthy juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) with uniform size (initial mean body mass 5.24 ± 0.04 g) were randomly assigned to four isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 250, 500, and 750 parts per million (ppm) of an Astragalus–Atractylodes extract (three replicates per treatment, 40 individuals per replicate) and fed for six weeks. After a 24 h fasting period, crayfish were randomly sampled for subsequent analyses. Results were as follows: (1) There were no significant differences in the final weight, specific growth rate, meat content, hepatosomatic index, intestinal length index, or condition factor among all groups of crayfish (p > 0.05). (2) The crude lipid content in crayfish muscle was significantly lower in all treatment groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed among groups in terms of muscle moisture, crude protein, and ash contents (p > 0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) in the 750 ppm group were significantly increased, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). (4) The intestinal microbiota of Procambarus clarkii was dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Dietary Astragalus membranaceus–Atractylodes macrocephala extracts altered community composition, decreasing the relative abundance of opportunistic genera such as Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium and, to some extent, improving co-occurrence network stability. (5) Correlation analyses linked host phenotypes to key differentially abundant genera: final weight was associated with Bosea and Nannocystis, hepatosomatic index and meat content with Nannocystis and Pseudomonas, respectively, and lipase activity with Pseudomonas, Nannocystis, and Bosea (p < 0.05). GPX was associated with Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium (p < 0.05), whereas MDA showed only weak associations with these genera but was negatively correlated with growth performance indices (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary Astragalus–Atractylodes extracts enhanced antioxidant capacity, tended to increase intestinal lipase activity, and significantly altered gut microbial community composition of P. clarkii, including reduced relative abundance of selected putatively harmful taxa and altered inferred microbial association patterns; under the present conditions, 750 ppm produced the most favorable overall response among the tested supplementation levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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33 pages, 11356 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fish Oil and Microalgae Finishing Diets on Fillet Fatty Acid Recovery, Liver and Intestine Histology, and Innate Immune Parameters of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Fed with Rapeseed Oil

by Morgane A. Henry, Eleni Fountoulaki, Maria Mastoraki, Petros Chronopoulos, Dimitra Kogiannou, Antigoni Vasilaki, Chrisanthi Nikoloudaki, Eloise Theillier, Matteo Chatteleyn and Ioannis T. Karapanagiotidis

Fishes 2026, 11(8), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11080444 - 28 Jul 2026

Viewed by 488

Abstract

This study evaluated the use of finishing diets to reduce fish oil (FO) inclusion in European sea bass feeds while preserving fillet quality and n-3 fatty acid content. Fish (197 g) were fed for 25 weeks with a control FO diet, based on 9% FO and 6% plant oil, or diets where 6% FO was replaced by rapeseed oil (RO) or microalgae (AO; Nannochloropsis sp. and Schizochytrium sp.). After 13 weeks, 2 groups of fish fed the RO diet were switched to the FO or AO finishing diets for the final 12 weeks. Growth, feed efficiency, body composition, and health were unaffected by dietary treatments. However, long-term RO feeding reduced eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and increased monounsaturated and n-6 fatty acids compared to fish fed AO or FO. A 12-wk FO finishing diets shifted morphometric traits, fatty acid profiles, liver histology, and overall fish quality of fish previously fed with RO toward those of fish continuously fed FO, whereas the AO finishing diet produced a smaller shift. Longer finishing periods may further enhance fillet quality when using microalgae-based oils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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24 pages, 11894 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Divergent Responses of Cyprinus carpio to Hermetia illucens and Musca domestica Larval Oils: A Matter of Source and Dose in Growth Performance, Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiome

by Xueliang Sun, Honghao Zhao, Chengxun Chen, Hong Yu, Xiaobo Wang, Hongyue Shi, Weiye Wei, Juan Yang and Zhenzhen Fang

Fishes 2026, 11(8), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11080434 - 24 Jul 2026

Viewed by 350

Abstract

The search for sustainable alternatives to fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds is imperative for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing FO with oils derived from Hermetia illucens (RH) and Musca domestica (RY) larvae at 10%, 30%, and 50% levels on growth, lipid metabolism, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in juvenile Cyprinus carpio. Results showed distinct source- and dose-dependent responses. RY produced a consistent dose-dependent trend in growth parameters, whereas RH exhibited a biphasic pattern, with growth impairment at 30% replacement and recovery at 50%. Both oils significantly suppressed hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity, yet this suppression was accompanied by dose-dependent up-regulation of fas expression, particularly at high RH and RY levels, indicating complex post-transcriptional regulation. RH at higher replacement levels reduced digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity, while higher RY caused minimal disruption. Both oils reshaped gut microbiota toward oil-specific community structures. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant synergistic interactions between oil source and replacement level for most serum biochemical and hepatic antioxidant parameters (ηp² > 0.90). These findings demonstrate that RY is a tolerable alternative across a wide replacement range, though all RY groups exhibited lower growth than the control, 30% is identified as the maximum tolerable level; whereas RH requires precise dosing at 10% to avoid the 30% impairment threshold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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19 pages, 4716 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth Performance and Instrumental Sensory Responses of Offshore-Farmed Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed Defatted Hermetia illucens Meal

by Ambra Rita Di Rosa, Marianna Oteri, Francesca Accetta, Rosangela Armone and Biagina Chiofalo

Fishes 2026, 11(7), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11070387 - 27 Jun 2026

Viewed by 450

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of partial replacement of fishmeal with 11% defatted Hermetia illucens meal (corresponding to approximately 35% replacement of the fishmeal-derived animal protein fraction) on growth performance, fillet proximate composition, and instrumental sensory responses of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) reared under commercial offshore farming conditions. A total of 60,000 fish were distributed into four sea cages and fed either a control diet (FM) or an insect-based diet (HIM) for 181 days. No significant differences were observed between dietary treatments in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, or somatic indices, indicating that insect meal inclusion did not impair productive performance under farm-scale conditions. Fillet proximate composition was largely preserved. Fillet sensory characteristics were assessed using an integrated artificial sensing platform including an electronic eye (E-eye), electronic nose (E-nose), and electronic tongue (E-tongue) coupled with multivariate analysis. E-eye and E-nose analyses showed no clear discrimination between dietary groups, indicating that dietary insect meal inclusion had limited effects on fillet visual appearance and volatile compound profiles. In contrast, E-tongue analysis revealed a clear separation between treatments, suggesting selective modulation of taste-related attributes associated with dietary inclusion of insect meal. Overall, the results demonstrate that defatted H. illucens meal can be incorporated into practical seabream diets under commercial farming conditions without compromising productive performance or major fillet quality traits. Furthermore, this study provides farm-scale evidence that artificial sensing technologies can effectively detect subtle diet-related changes in sensory characteristics, particularly those associated with taste perception. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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18 pages, 274 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Wasted Tofu Meal as an Alternative to Fish Meal in Juvenile Yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata

by Amal Biswas, Rino Nakajima, Yuko Fujimoto, Hiroya Sato, Hiroshi Fushimi, Tomoki Honryo and Hideki Tanaka

Fishes 2026, 11(6), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11060365 - 20 Jun 2026

Viewed by 434

Abstract

A six-week feeding experiment was carried out to investigate the suitability of wasted tofu meal (WTM) as a substitute protein source for fish meal (FM) in diets for juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). A diet containing FM as the principal protein source served as the control (C), while WTM was incorporated to replace 20%, 35%, and 50% of the FM protein in the experimental diets, referred to as T20, T35, and T50, respectively. Juvenile fish with an initial average body weight of approximately 30.99 g were randomly distributed into 500-L tanks at a density of 20 fish per tank, with triplicate groups assigned to each dietary treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, fish fed the T20 diet showed no significant differences from the control group in final body weight, specific growth rate, daily feed intake, feed efficiency, or survival. However, fish receiving the T35 and T50 diets exhibited significant reductions in most growth performance indices compared with those fed the control diet. Although nutrient retention efficiency and plasma biochemical indicators associated with fish health were not significantly influenced by dietary treatment, alterations were observed in whole-body lipid composition and fatty acid profiles, including reductions in EPA, DHA, total n-3 fatty acids, and the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio with increasing WTM inclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that, under the dietary formulations tested, WTM can replace up to 20% of FM protein in diets for juvenile yellowtail without negatively affecting growth performance or physiological health; however, supplementation with n-3 HUFA-rich lipid sources may be required to maintain optimal whole-body fatty acid composition and product nutritional quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

19 pages, 312 KB

Open AccessArticle

Partial Fishmeal Replacement with Defatted Hermetia illucens Meal in Offshore-Farmed Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata): Effects on Fillet Quality and Microbiological Stability

by Marianna Oteri, Ambra Rita Di Rosa, Vittorio Lo Presti, Giovanni Toscano, Filippo Giarratana and Biagina Chiofalo

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040211 - 1 Apr 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1169

Abstract

The search for sustainable alternatives to fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds represents a major challenge for modern aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects of replacing 35% of FM with defatted Hermetia illucens larvae meal (HIM35) in diets of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) reared under full-scale commercial offshore farming conditions. Fillet nutritional quality, fatty acid and amino acid profiles, mineral composition, and microbiological stability during refrigerated storage were assessed. Dietary HIM35 significantly modified the fatty acid profile, increasing saturated fatty acids, particularly lauric and myristic acids, and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Despite reductions in eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA), total PUFA and lipid health indices remained within recommended ranges and EPA + DHA levels were above 8%, supporting both fillet nutritional value and fish physiological requirements. Enzymatic indices based on product-to-precursor fatty acid ratios suggested reduced Δ5 + Δ6-desaturase activity. The amino acid profile showed increases in selected essential and non-essential amino acids, while overall protein quality was preserved. HIM35 fillets showed lower sodium and higher zinc contents, whereas increased aluminum levels warrant further investigation. Microbiological analyses confirmed the absence of foodborne pathogens and no effects on spoilage dynamics. Overall, HIM35 represents a safe and effective partial replacement for FM supporting sustainable aquafeed strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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24 pages, 7459 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme, Muscle and Skin Characteristics, and Immune-Antioxidant Functions in Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus)

by Chengkun Zhang, Chuanpeng Zhou, Zhengyi Fu and Zhenhua Ma

Fishes 2026, 11(3), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030186 - 20 Mar 2026

Viewed by 593

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) supplementation on various indicators in coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), including growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, muscle and skin morphology, inflammatory immune gene expression, as well as immune and antioxidant responses. In the experiment, fish were fed diets supplemented with different concentrations of LBP (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1%) over a designated experimental period. The results showed that moderate supplementation of LBP significantly improved growth performance, with the optimal concentration being around 0.243%, achieving the highest specific growth rate. LBP supplementation also enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activity, such as trypsin in the 0.1% and 1% groups, and α-amylase in the 0.5% group. Additionally, LBP improved the nutritional composition of muscle, with the 1% group showing higher crude protein content and the 0.2–1% groups having lower crude fat content. Moderate LBP supplementation improved skin color and pigmentation, increasing the brightness, redness, and yellowness of the dorsal skin, as well as boosting carotenoid and astaxanthin concentrations. It also enhanced the immune and antioxidant functions of the skin (e.g., SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, AKP, and LZ) and improved the immune functions of the mucus (e.g., C3, C4, IgM, IgT, AKP, and LZ). Furthermore, the expression of key pro-inflammatory genes, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, was reduced. These findings suggest that LBP can serve as a natural feed additive to enhance the overall quality and health of coral trout, contributing to sustainable aquaculture practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Strategies and Mechanisms of Fish Meal and Oil Replacement)

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