MICROALGAE APPLICATIONS AND POTENTIAL IN HATCHERIES

ABSTRACT. Microalgae play a critical role for first feeding larvae in most marine and many fresh water hatcheries. The quantity of microalgal biomass used in hatcheries is minimal compared to aquafeed biomass used in grow out, and small compared to the potential of microalgae as composite feed ingredients. Nonetheless, high quality microalgae are essential to the hatchery success of many species and are highly beneficial to most others. As Aquaculture continues to grow to meet the increasing world demand for fish and shellfish that capture fisheries can no longer sustain, the demand for reliable supplies microalgae becomes stronger. In 2014 food fisheries production is estimated to have exceeded 125 million tonnes, with aquaculture accounting for 50% of that production. By 2030 the world will consume 150 million tons of fisheries products, with nearly all of the increased production coming from aquaculture- a 40% increase in production. To meet supply chain and environmental constraints, aquaculture is becoming increasingly reliant on hatchery production to stock the grow-out operations. In this new environment a dependable supply of high-quality microalgae that can fulfill the functional requirements of hatcheries is proving to be essential for the success of aquaculture.