ALTERNATIVE PROTIEN SOURCES IN AQUACULTURE FEED: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The development of aquaculture has been increasing rapidly in the world resulting in relying on fishmeal and fish oil which have brought ecological, economic and sustainability challenges. It is an evidence-based systematic literature review that is investigating the alternatives to animal protein sources in aquaculture feed that involves a quantitative bibliometric analysis alongside qualitative thematic synthesis of articles published 2000-2024. Selected articles After a rigorous screening process, 312 peer-reviewed articles were incorporated. Bibliometric analysis revealed that the quantity of research publications was increasing exponentially and particularly after 2015, which implies the increasing amount of efforts to discover sustainable feed solutions on a global scale. Alternatives that are most actively studied are plant-based proteins where insect meals, single-cell proteins (SCPs), and animal by-products have demonstrated that they can be used as a replacement of fishmeat to a considerable extent (partially or wholly). Insect proteins, i.e. Hermetia illucens, have been successfully substituted with a maximum of 75 percent without any growth performance impairment and in other instances animal by-products were able to have 100 percent substitution. Single cell proteins provided extra immunostimulatory activities due to bioactive substances e.g. b-glucans. In spite of the economic viability and excessive supply of the plant proteins, it has limitations with regard to anti-nutritional elements, as well as the amino acid imbalances. Life cycle assessment indicates that the insect and microbial proteins have been related to considerable advantages to the environment particularly when they are produced with the consumption of wastes. Though the evidence is promising, physiological, reproductive, and microbiome-related impacts of the long term have not been studied thoroughly. Overall, it is suggested that strategic blending of most of the alternative protein sources may optimize nutritional adequacy, economic and environmental stability in the aquaculture feed systems.