Comparison of Pond Production Efficiency, Fatty Acid Profiles, and Contaminants in Litopenaeus vannamei Fed Organic Plant‐based and Fish‐meal‐based Diets

Abstract

Reduction or elimination of fish meal and fish oil from aquaculture diets can help to reduce the potential for contamination and dependence of the industry on pelagic fisheries while improving economic competitiveness. However, fish oil provides important omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids (FAs) essential to shrimp health and beneficial to humans. This study evaluated an organic, plant‐based diet formulated to replace fish meal and fish oil with plant proteins and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) produced by algal fermentation. Shrimp cultured in replicate outdoor ponds at 25/m2 were fed either a diet composed of organically produced plant ingredients or a conventional commercial fish‐meal‐based feed. No significant differences were found in production parameters between the conventional fish‐meal‐based diet and the plant‐based diet (production: 4594 and 4592 kg/ha; harvest size: 18.7 and 19.2 g; survival: 93 and 88%; and feed conversion ratio: 1.4 and 1.3, respectively). At harvest, shrimp were analyzed for 147 chemical contaminants and 71 FAs. Contaminant levels were negligible for shrimp raised on both diets. The fish meal and fish oil diet provided significantly higher quantities of eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA than the plant‐based diet, and the shrimp fed the conventional diet reflected this with higher levels of these beneficial FAs in edible tissues. Differences between feeds and shrimp tissues suggest that essential n‐3 FAs may accumulate in shrimp tissues over time or that natural pond productivity may play a role in providing supplemental nutrition. Shrimp raised on the two diets and wild‐caught shrimp are clearly distinguishable by their FA profiles. Compared to alternative protein sources like beef, pork, or chicken, differences in lipid profiles of shrimp raised on either diet may be insignificant because both offer increased human health benefits.

Evaluation of dietary soybean meal as fish meal replacer for juvenile whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei reared in biofloc system

“…It was also reported that 80% FM could be replaced by co-extruded soybean and poultry by-product meal supplemented with egg in indoor recirculating water system (Davis and Arnold 2000). Likewise, other researchers suggested different inclusion levels of FM in the diet of whiteleg shrimp culture in different conditions (Samocha et al 2004a;Browdy et al 2006;Patnaik et al 2006;Amaya et al 2007). This is while in marine shrimp diets, higher levels of dietary SBM usually resulted in lower growth (Akiyama 1990;Floreto et al 2000).…”

Growth, nonspecific immune characteristics, and survival upon challenge with Vibrio harveyi in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) raised on diets containing algal meal

“…These single-celled organisms are commonly found in marine and other saline environments and are a potential source of oil for aquaculture [17e21], as they produce lipids with high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) [22e24]. Studies have demonstrated that coextruded soybean and poultry byproduct meal and a commercially available source of thraustochytrid oil from the species Schizochytrium is a strong potential candidate for fishmeal and fish oil replacement in shrimp feed [25,26].…”

Innovative protein sources in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) feeding

“…This deficiency could be covered by very small amounts of fish oil, squid meal and liquid fish soluble, which not only improved palatability, but also acted as a full or superior equivalent in shrimp production grow‐out feed compared to conventional FM‐based diets (Browdy et al . ). On the other hand, Moreno‐Arias et al .…”

“…The consulted bibliography shows that although vegetables can substitute high FM levels (50%), FM cannot be totally replaced without including some animal marine protein sources (Browdy et al . ). Most of the diets cited in Table include a low percentage of squid meal or some other marine source to guarantee a minimum marine protein input.…”