Innovation in Fish Nutrition, Production Technology, and Welfare

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1314

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research and Development Station for Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Carol I, 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
Interests: phytogenics; fish diets; water quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Parasitology Service, Clinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Ion Ionescu de la Brad, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Interests: veterinary medicine; zoology; parasitology; animal welfare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Station for Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Interests: aquaculture; fish reproduction; cultivation technology; fish nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture is a continuously expanding sector that developed due to the need to provide sustainable food for a growing population and to counterbalance the decline of the fish population in the wild. At the same time, aquaculture is a source of income and food for farmers in less developed countries. To ensure the high demand for products and profitability, the cultivation densities were greatly increased, an aspect that brings numerous challenges and problems. Among these, the most frequent are the problems related to water quality degradation, the occurrence of physiological stress, and decreased animal welfare. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in energy prices caused an increase in feed prices, which represent over 50% of the production cost, putting farmers in a difficult situation. Scientific and technological development can contribute to solving these problems by developing more efficient growing systems with reduced environmental impact, making feed from new and sustainable ingredients with a higher conversion factor, and developing natural products to fight diseases and parasites. This Special Issue is dedicated to interdisciplinary studies on fish nutrition, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, reproduction, and breeding technologies. The articles will cover a wide range of topics related to water quality, feed quality, the influence of diets on production levels, the quality of production, and fish welfare.

Dr. Marian Burducea
Prof. Dr. Liviu-Dan Miron
Dr. Cristian-Alin Barbacariu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aquaculture
  • fish nutrition
  • fish welfare
  • water quality
  • fish disease
  • feed additives
  • rearing systems
  • modern feeding technologies
  • waste management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 1712 KB  
Article
Dose-Dependent Effects of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal on Growth and Health of Common Carp
by Lenuța Dîrvariu, Cristian-Alin Barbacariu, Marian Burducea, Gabriela Dumitru, Elena Todirascu-Ciornea, Dana Andreea Șerban, Cristina Mihaela Rîmbu, Cristina Elena Horhogea, Mircea Lazăr and Daniel Simeanu
Life 2026, 16(4), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040595 - 3 Apr 2026
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating Black Soldier Fly Meal (BSFLM) into the diet of two-year-old carp on growth and health status. Four concentrations of BSFLM were tested, T1-0% (control), T2-10%, T3-20%, and T4-30%, in common carp [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating Black Soldier Fly Meal (BSFLM) into the diet of two-year-old carp on growth and health status. Four concentrations of BSFLM were tested, T1-0% (control), T2-10%, T3-20%, and T4-30%, in common carp with an initial body weight of 112.06 ± 3.86 g over a 12-week feeding period. The results showed that final weight and weight gain were 17.3% (349.15 g) and 23% (233.6 g) higher in the T4 group compared to the control (298.63 g and 189.79 g, respectively). Flesh composition showed no significant changes. Hematological variations were insignificant. Oxidative stress assessment revealed increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx) alongside reduced lipid peroxidation. The counts of anaerobic microorganisms and Enterobacteriaceae in intestine increased linearly in BSFLM groups. Histological examination showed normal intestinal and hepatopancreatic morphology in the 10% and 20% BSFLM groups (T2 and T3). In contrast, the 30% inclusion level (T4) was associated with hepatocellular vacuolization and alterations in villus architecture. In two-year-old carp, dietary BSFLM induced dose-dependent responses, whereby higher inclusion levels supported weight gain but adversely affected the morphological integrity of the intestine and hepatopancreas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in Fish Nutrition, Production Technology, and Welfare)
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