The term environmentally sustainable feed is usually defined as a feed which does not use fishmeal or fish-oil-based feeds from unsustainable fisheries and in general is continually moving towards using alternative raw materials for example plant or animal based ingredients originating from sustainable agriculture and contribute minimal amount of pollution to the ponds. In recent years, significant efforts and funds have been expended in the pursuit of such sustainable shrimp feeds. The ultimate goal of such endeavors is the availability of a feed which do not use any marine meal such as fish meal and/or fish oil, which is however, comparable in all feed quality aspects and growth performance potential, to the feed containing fishmeal and/or fish oil. The sustainable feed must able to provide complete nutrition for optimal growth performance, must be palatable and digestible thereby having high nutrient conversion efficiency and having low feed wastage - contributing to the sustainability of the culture ponds.
Several technological developments, such as the availability of new ingredients, and feed additives, over the recent years have made it possible to realize the aim of replacing fish meal and/or fish oil. This paper sets out to describe the process involved in the development of environmentally sustainable shrimp feeds - utilizing new ingredients and feed additives, for use in commercial aquaculture. Weeaqua Consultant