Effects of enhancing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) meal for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) : probiotic application and chitin removal : a feasibility study

• Main Author: Kristófer Leó Ómarsson 1994-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn á Akureyri
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Sjávarútvegsfræði; Fóður (landbúnaður); Fiskeldi; Prótín; Lax; Fisheries science; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/30782

Verkefnið er lokað til 20.04.2019. As the human population continues to grow at a rapid rate, combined with a rising pressure on already over-exploited global wild fisheries, the need for a dependable and risk-free food source is of great importance. These concerns have fuelled expansion of the aquaculture industry which today produces over half of the global fish production for food and non-food uses. However, modern aquaculture practises rely greatly on wild capture fisheries to produce aquafeed, hence, as the industry has expanded the demand for wild capture fish has too. After years of research, soybean protein has found its way into the global market as a partial replacement for fish meal. Soybeans do have their limitations, one in particular being deforestation. This conundrum has caused researchers to look to alternative feed ingredients. After widespread research and despite its limitations, insect protein has been considered a promising replacement. This trial aimed to bridge some of the knowledge gaps associated with replacing fish meal and soy protein with alternative sources, including insect protein. The aim of this study was to assess black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) (BSF) meal and investigate possible techniques to enhance it to make it more competitive in the modern market. A 28-day trial was conducted on juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish were fed 6 different formulated, baked test diets in addition to a commercially available extruded diet that was used for comparison. Two of the test diets were control diets; fish meal control and soy bean control, and four test diets were insect-based, formulated using 10% treated and untreated BSF meal. The current study found that enhancing BSF meal is a feasible option to improve the performance of this alternative protein source. Treating the BSF for removal of chitin from insect proteins resulted in improved growth performance compared with the other experimental diets, and comparable growth with the commercial feed. Likewise, ...