Summary
This study valorises underutilised waste biomasses from European freshwater aquaculture systems—including oyster mushrooms, black soldier fly larvae, earthworms, microalgae and aquatic plants—as potential functional feed ingredients for fish. Through in vitro screening, the researchers identified strain-specific prebiotic effects, antimicrobial activity against multiple fish pathogens at inhibition zones of 9–16 mm, and immunomodulatory properties, offering a circular economy approach to enhance aquafeed sustainability whilst reducing antibiotic dependency.
Regional applicability
These findings are relevant to UK aquaculture operations seeking to develop locally-sourced functional feed ingredients and reduce reliance on imported feed additives and antimicrobials. The circular economy principles of waste valorisation align with UK water industry and fisheries sustainability targets, though in vivo efficacy and regulatory approval would be required before practical implementation.
Key measures
Prebiotic potential (promotion of probiotic bacterial growth across seven strains); antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion assay with inhibition zone measurements in mm against 13 pathogens); pro- and anti-inflammatory properties (RAW 264.7 cell-based assays)
Outcomes reported
The study screened waste-derived biomasses from fungi, invertebrates, microalgae, and aquatic plants for prebiotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties relevant to fish nutrition and health. Extracts demonstrated strain-specific prebiotic effects on probiotic bacteria and inhibitory activity against multiple fish and human pathogens.
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