| Using insects as a novel approach in the aquafeed production industry |
| Paper ID : 1031-ICIAQUA |
| Authors |
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Fatemeh Davoudi Sefidkohi *, Hamed Vardastzadeh Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran |
| Abstract |
| With the increasing growth of the world population and the demand for high-quality food and protein, the aquaculture industry has become one of the most important sectors providing these resources. As this industry grows, the restrictions on using fish powder and fish oil as the most important components of feed have increased; Therefore, finding alternative sources is considered one of the main challenges facing the aquaculture industry, and it will be a step forward in sustainable aquaculture development. The use of plant sources as alternative feeds is faced with limitations such as the presence of anti-nutritional compounds and reduced production due to decreasing agricultural lands. In recent years, insects have been considered as a substitute protein source primarily due to their high protein content, low environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, nutrition from low-quality feed, low water requirements, suitable production efficiency in limited spaces, and ease of growth and reproduction. Among insect, the powder obtained from the Diptera order bears the closest resemblance to fishmeal. Studies indicate that the amount of insect powder used and its efficiency in fish nutrition depend on factors such as the species of insects and aquatic, feeding regimes (carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous), breeding species size, replacement levels, environmental conditions, feeding rates, and feeding duration. Complete substitution of fishmeal with insect powder in different aquatics species is usually not successful, as their growth performance declines with increased substitution; however, it can be used as a relative substitute in aquatic nutrition. |
| Keywords |
| Aquaculture, Diet, Fishmeal, Replacement, Insects |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |