Marine plants may be key to healthier farming fish, according to the latest findings from European research collaborations, which could change global aquaculture practices.
Norwegian and Spanish researchers have found that certain seaweed extracts can greatly reduce intestinal inflammation in farmed fish, an ongoing challenge to the aquaculture industry as it seeks to develop more sustainable feed formulas.
The focus of the study is matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), a family of enzymes found in vertebrates that, while critical for tissue repair and remodeling, can also lead to inflammatory diseases. The researchers examined whether seaweed species with MMP inhibitory properties can add intestinal inflammation to plant-based fish feed.
Three commercially significant carnivorous species – Atlantic salmon, European Ocean and Gilthead Seabrem, demonstrated a positive response to treatment. When fresh and processed brown and red seaweed extracts were added to the diet, the researchers observed a significant inhibitory effect on intestinal MMP in these three species.
The growing pressure on the aquaculture industry to reduce its dependence on ocean-derived proteins and find sustainable alternatives to maintain the health of fish is a discovery stemming from an increasing number of discoveries.
“Our in vitro simulations of the digestive process in Atlantic salmon and Mediterranean Gilthead Seabrem demonstrate their efficiency,” said Neda Gilannejad, senior researcher at the Norce Norwegian Research Center.
Despite the promise of plant-based ingredients in fish feed, their introduction often triggers intestinal inflammation, a problem that limits the efforts of the aquaculture industry to adopt more sustainable practices. This study shows that supplementing seaweed can provide natural solutions to this ongoing challenge.
The survey used laboratory techniques to simulate the digestive conditions of Atlantic salmon and Gilt Blackhead Seabrem, confirming that experimental feed containing algae meals maintained anti-inflammatory effects throughout the digestion process, a key finding for practical applications.
In addition to direct health benefits, the research highlights the untapped potential of marine resources in addressing aquaculture challenges. “The results show the importance of biologically trained marine resources in addressing the pressing health challenges of aquaculture,” Gilannejad noted.
The study was supported by two initiatives mainly funded by the EU: the recently concluded Alehoop project, which demonstrates the feasibility of legume by-products to extract protein from legume by-products and validates the use of green large amounts of algae in animal feed over a five-year duration; and the ongoing Blue Fungi Group project, which will continue until November 2026, bringing together experts from Europe and South Africa to explore marine microbiome data.
These collaborations highlight an increasing scientific interest in so-called “blue resources”, namely marine life that may contribute to sustainable solutions for multiple industries.
As fish farming continues to expand globally to meet growing protein demands, innovations such as seaweed enhanced feed may play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and welfare of aquaculture operations.
For an industry that is constantly balancing economic viability with environmental responsibility and animal welfare, these findings give a glimpse into how nature offers solutions to some of its most enduring challenges.
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Related research
1. Reverter, M., Bontemps, N., Lecchini, D., Banaigs, B. , & Sasal, P. (2014). Use of plant extracts as an alternative to chemotherapy in fish aquaculture: Current status and future perspectives. Aquaculture, 433, 50-61.
2. Valente, LMP, Araújo, M., Batista, S., Peixoto, MJ, Sousa-Pinto, I., Brotas, V. , & Ozório, Roa (2016). Carotenoid deposition, meat quality and immune response of Nironi phenotypic fish fed the levels of ULVA SPP cultured in IMTA. Journal of Applied Botany, 28(1), 691-701.
3. Wan, Ahl, Davies, SJ, Soler-Vila, A., Fitzgerald, R. , & Johnson, MP (2019). Large algae are a sustainable ingredient on water. Aquaculture Reviews, 11 (3), 458-492.
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