Probiotics Have the Potential to Significantly Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Freshwater Fish Farms

Abstract

Probiotics for freshwater fish farming can be administered as single or multiple mixtures. The expected benefits of probiotics include disease prophylaxis, improved growth, and feed conversion parameters, such as the feed conversion rate (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). In the current work, we review the impact of probiotics on freshwater finfish aquaculture. Data were gathered from articles published during the last decade that examined the effects of probiotics on fish growth, FCR, and water quality in freshwater fishponds/tanks. While the expected benefits of probiotics are significant, the reviewed data indicate a range in the level of effects, with an average reduction in ammonia of 50.7%, SGR increase of 17.1%, and FCR decrease of 10.7%. Despite the variability in the reported benefits, probiotics appear to offer a practical solution for sustainable freshwater aquaculture. Disease prophylaxis with probiotics can reduce the need for antibiotics and maintain gut health and feed conversion. Considering that fish feed and waste are two significant parameters of the aquaculture ecological footprint, it can be argued that probiotics can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of aquaculture. In this direction, it would be beneficial if more researchers incorporated water quality parameters in future aquaculture research and protocols to minimize aquaculture’s environmental impact.

Probiotic Potentiality from Versatile Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains as Resource to Enhance Freshwater Fish Health

“…plantarum are proposed or used as probiotics in aquaculture practices [40][41][42]. Considering the positive impact of probiotics, it is important to select new specific strains to be used in freshwater fish aquaculture [20,43].…”

Fish Probiotics: Cell Surface Properties of Fish Intestinal Lactobacilli and Escherichia coli

“…The mechanisms of action of probiotics in aquaculture include the secretion of antagonistic compounds [ 30 , 31 ], effects on quorum sensing mechanisms [ 32 , 33 ], inhibition of adhesion and colonization by pathogenic bacteria via competitive exclusion [ 34 ], modulation of gut microbiota and immune reactions [ 35 ], antiviral effects [ 36 ], and the improvement of water quality and modulation of the aquatic microbiota [ 37 , 38 ]. Considering the variety of different mechanisms of action for probiotics, the most important question is whether candidate probiotic strains exhibit one or more of these specific beneficial properties and how to identify and select the most useful strains for use in freshwater fish aquaculture [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Probiotics Mediate Intestinal Microbiome and Microbiota-Derived Metabolites Regulating the Growth and Immunity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

“…Turbots ( Scophthalmus maximus ) supplemented with Bacillus coagulans exhibited better growth performance and increased digestion and absorption capacity ( 11 ). Probiotics can modulate both local mucosal and systemic immune responses, leading to reduced gut inflammation in many farmed fish ( 17 ). However, the underlying metabolic functions related to their involvement in the regulation of growth phenotypes, nutrient utilization, and immune response are not yet well understood, especially in aquaculture.…”