Fish farming, or aquaculture, is one of the fastest-growing food sectors worldwide, playing a crucial role in feeding a growing global population. Central to successful aquaculture is providing fish with a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs for healthy growth, reproduction, and overall wellbeing. Traditionally, fishmeal and fish oil—derived from wild-caught fish—have been the primary ingredients in aquafeed. However, sustainability concerns and resource limitations, as mentioned in our last post, are driving innovation toward alternative protein sources. This time, we’ll explore fish nutritional requirements and dive into promising novel protein solutions, highlighting startups leading the charge in these areas.
Just like people, fish require a complex mix of nutrients, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Different species have different needs, but generally, carnivorous animals have more exacting diets, requiring higher protein levels (40-50%) compared to herbivorous or omnivorous species (25-35%). Lipids provide concentrated energy and essential omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA, vital for brain development and overall health. Seafood with a pink colour gets its pigment from its diet too, so salmon and shrimp also need carotenes to keep their colour bright.
Fishmeal and fish oil have been the go-to sources because they naturally contain a near-perfect balance of these nutrients, but due to their sustainability concerns, there is a search for alternative, sustainable protein sources that can replicate or even improve fishmeal’s nutritional profile.
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