Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

EVALUATION OF HEMP SEED PROTEIN CONCENTRATE ON HEALTH INDICES AND AS A PARTIAL FISH MEAL REPLACEMENT IN STRIPED BASS Morone saxatilis DIETS

Anthony Siccardi* , Anthony Sample, Magnus Krever, Cristina Richardson

Sustainable Aquaponics Research Center

Georgia Southern University

Savannah, GA 31419

Asiccardi@georgiasouthern.edu

 



Nutrition research into fish meal replacements have increased sustainability, but additional alternatives are needed if aquaculture is to continue to expand. Hemp seed meal has been discussed as an alternative to fish meal due to its similar nutritional qualities and sustainable global production. This study evaluated five hemp seed protein concentrate inclusion levels for their effect on health indices and as an alternative to fish meal through growth and digestibility trials with striped bass (Morone saxatilis). A seven-week growth trial was conducted within a recirculating aquaculture system using a total of two control diets (commercial and experimental) and five experimental hemp seed protein concentrate replacement diets (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% fish meal replacement). Each diet was randomly assigned to four tanks with each tank containing four fish. At the end of the growth trial, no significant difference was found within final weight, percent weight gain, thermal growth coefficient, survival, intraperitoneal fat ratio, and muscle ratio across the diets. Condition factor and hepatosomatic index  were found to be significant, but all treatments performed well based on condition factor and higher inclusion levels did not indicate a larger liver which was found at the 10% replacement level. Apparent protein digestibility of menhaden fish meal (83.9) was not significantly different from hemp seed protein concentrate (83.3). These findings indicate that in striped bass diets, hemp protein concentrate is well tolerated up to 33.2% of the total diet which corresponded to a 50% replacement of fish meal with hemp seed protein concentrate.