The Significance of Spirulina Meal on Fishmeal Replacement in Aquaculture. A Review

In fish farming operations, feed accounts for more than half of the total variable operating costs. The costs are mainly contributed by protein source from feed ingredients. Therefore, the potential use of unconventional feed ingredients such as algae, as feed inputs in replacement of high-cost feedstuffs such as fishmeal has been increasing. Among unconventional algae feed ingredients, Spirulina which is a fast-growing cyanobacter of large size have been a possible alternative protein source for cultured fish due to high and good quality protein, vitamins and essential fatty acids contents, antioxidant pigments, antimicrobial activity, and anticancer properties. A review was conducted on the significance of Spirulina meal on fishmeal replacement in Aquaculture, mostly focus was on finfish culture. About 20 published online journal papers, from Research gate, Google scholar and other online platforms in aquaculture nutrition were reviewed. Among reviewed papers revealed that the amount of fish meal to be replaced with Spirulina in the diet has been in a certain limit, with the positive growth performance, improving non-specific immune activity, enhancing good quality of fillets and increase the quality of eggs at the inclusion levels between 0.5 to 15%. Therefore, this review suggests that 1-20% inclusion level of Spirulina can be used to replace fish meal in a diet for effective low feeding costs in both omnivorous and herbivorous fish species.