Summary
This review examines sustainable protein alternatives to fishmeal for African aquaculture feeds, addressing the sector's growth whilst tackling socioeconomic and ecological constraints. Animal by-products emerge as the most viable near-term option due to cost-effectiveness and non-competition with human food systems, whilst insect proteins show promise but face utilisation barriers and human consumption competition. The authors identify inadequate processing technology, infrastructure, and targeted investment as critical bottlenecks limiting adoption across the continent.
Regional applicability
This review focuses on African aquaculture contexts and may have limited direct application to United Kingdom aquaculture policy and practice, which operates within more developed infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. However, the findings on alternative protein source evaluation and sustainability could inform UK research into feed diversification and circular economy approaches within aquaculture.
Key measures
Comparative assessment of alternative protein sources (animal by-products, insect proteins, plant-based proteins) against criteria including cost-effectiveness, availability, competition with human consumption, anti-nutritive substances, and processing feasibility.
Outcomes reported
The review examined potential alternative feed protein sources to replace fishmeal in African aquaculture, evaluating their sustainability, economic viability, and associated technical and regulatory challenges. It identified animal by-products and insect proteins as promising alternatives whilst highlighting infrastructure and investment barriers.
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