article · Animals
Traditional fish meal is increasingly unsustainable for the expanding aquaculture sector, prompting investigation into insect-derived proteins as potential replacements. A twelve-week feeding trial evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal with black soldier fly larvae meal in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia. Diets ranged from zero to one hundred percent replacement across seven experimental groups. Tilapia fed diets containing insect meal showed no significant differences in survival rates, feed intake, feed utilisation efficiency, or growth indexes compared to those receiving traditional fish meal. Furthermore, complete blood counts and related haematological measures remained unaffected. Fish receiving black soldier fly larvae meal demonstrated enhanced skin mucus lysozyme and peroxidase activities, indicating improved mucosal immunity. The findings show that black soldier fly larvae meal can fully replace fish meal in Nile tilapia feeds without inducing adverse effects.
Aquaculture requires sustainable feed ingredients because conventional fish meal supplies cannot meet expanding global demand. Demonstrating that insect protein can completely replace marine-derived fish meal without compromising Nile tilapia growth or health offers a viable path toward lower-impact aquaculture feed. Additionally, the observed boost to skin mucus immune markers indicates that insect-based meal may support natural disease resistance in farmed fish.
This applied and tested research provides clear evidence for animal feed manufacturers and tilapia producers seeking alternative protein sources. The data validates formulations where black soldier fly larvae meal replaces conventional fish meal entirely. Moving this toward practical commercial use will primarily depend on the availability, regulatory approval, and cost-effective bulk production of insect meal at an industrial scale for aquafeed compounding.
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Fish meal (FM) is no longer a sustainable source for the increasing aquaculture industry. Animal proteins from insects may be used as a FM alternative source as long as they do not create adverse effects in fish. Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) was tested in a 12-week experiment on Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>). Four hundred and twenty (14.77 ± 2.09 g) fish were divided into seven groups and were fed seven diets: control (0% BSFLM-100% FM), and FM replaced by BSFLM at rates of 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. Growth indexes, feed utilization efficiency indices, feed intake, and survival rate were not significantly different (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between FM and BSFLM fed fish. Values of red blood cell, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell distribution width, and platelet values were not affected by BSFLM. Skin, mucus lysozyme, and peroxidase activities were improved in BSFLM fed fish. BSFLM can be used as a substitution for FM in the Nile tilapia (<i>O. niloticus</i>) diet at up to a 100% rate with no adverse effects.
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DOI: 10.3390/ani11010193
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