BLACK SOLDIER FLY MEAL AS A PROTEIN SOURCE IN GILTHEAD SEABREAM FEED-OPPORTUNITY AND LIMITATIONS

Amir Bitan*, Nathan Gur, Tom Katz
 
Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Center for Mariculture, P.O.Box 1212, Eilat 88112, Israel
amir.bitan@ocean.org.il
 

Reducing fishmeal inclusion levels in aquafeed by replacing it with alternative, more sustainable protein sources, is an ongoing effort led by the aquafeed industry with an aim to reduce formulation costs. We evaluated Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) meal produced by the use of fruit wastes substrate, as a replacement for fishmeal in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) feed. Juvinile seabream were fed with experimental diets in which 0%, 50% or 100% of fishmeal was replaced by BSF meal with an additional treatment group that included 100% replacement of fishmeal by BSF meal with the addition of 5% fish hydrolysate. Treatment effect on specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, average weight gain, body composition, fish fatty acid profile, muscle, liver and intestine condition were examined. The ability and limitations of using BSF meal as a replacement for fishmeal as an ingredient in juvenile gilthead seabream diet will be presented.