New developments in aquatic feed ingredients, and potential of New developments in aquatic feed ingredients, and potential of enzyme supplements

Aquaculture production has expanded at a rate of 15% per year and is predicted to continue to grow at this rate for at least the next decade. Demands on traditional fish feed ingredients, mainly fish meal and oil, which are finite global resources, are increasing. At prese nt, global fishmeal production averages 6.5 mmt per year, of which 23% is utilized in feeds for farmed fish. Global fish oil production averages 1.4 mmt per year, and 25% of this yearly production is utilized in fish feeds. Up to now, 70% of the fish mea l and oil used to produce farmed fish has been consumed by salmon, trout and shrimp, despite the fact that these species account for only 30% of global fish feed production and only 7% of global aquaculture production. Clearly, expanded production of carn ivorous species requiring high protein, high -energy feeds will further tax global fish meal and oil supplies. Suitable alternative feed ingredients will have to been utilized to provide the essential nutrients and energy needed to fuel the growth of aquac ulture production. Rendered products, seafood processing waste, including by -catch, and grain and oilseed by -products are the most likely candidate feed sources to carry aquaculture forward to higher production levels. Worldwide, annual production of rendered products is roughly equivalent to annual fish meal production, with meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal making up 80% of total production. These products are variable in quality, high in ash content, and fully utilized by other agricultura l sectors. They are unlikely to supply a high proportion of the protein needed in fish feeds, but may be valuable as feed components due to their favorable amino acid profiles, which complement plant-derived protein sources. If seafood processing waste and by -catch were converted to fish meal, the quantity would nearly equal annual global fish meal production and potentially provide significant fish protein and oil supplies for aquaculture feeds. However, the high ash content and logistical problems with collection and processing will limit full utilization of this resource. Grain and oilseed by-products are thus the most promising sources of protein and energy for aquaculture feeds of the future. Despite many successful research studies on the use of pl ant-derived feed ingredients in fish feeds, significant problems remain to be resolved. Innovative collaborative research efforts between geneticists, fish nutritionists and the industrial sectors producing these products are beginning to resolve these te chnical problems. Use of enzyme supplements is one potential aspect of alternate ingredient utilization that will increase the nutritional value and use of alternate feed ingredients.