Nurturing the fish we eat: scientists are innovating feed to support fish health

Treating our seas with care and sustainability in mind isn’t just about the fish. After all, our food comes from the sea as well, so this way we are investing in better nutrition for humans, too.

Traditionally, fishmeal and fish oil have been the primary feed sources in aquaculture, but their production puts pressure on marine ecosystems. To make aquaculture more sustainable, researchers at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) are working on better fish feed formulations by using pigment-producing yeasts, fungi, microbial additives, microalgae, and worms. These naturally derived feed additives provide more than just calories: they boost fish pigmentation, improve their immune function, and optimise lipid metabolism, ultimately making fish healthier. This is a win-win scenario – on top of better health, well-fed fish were also observed to grow faster.

This cutting-edge research is part of the EU-CONEXUS Open Lab Hours (OLH) Research Training on “Fish Feed Raw Materials for Sustainable Aquaculture” and the Student Research Hub (SRH) project on “Microbial Additives in Aquaculture and Their Effects on the Lipid Metabolism of Gilthead Seabream”.

Researchers are also testing which ingredients provide the best nutrition for different fish species while experimenting with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) – a method that recycles water in fish farms to reduce waste. Other innovations include special feed formulas that improve digestion and reduce pollution, as well as smart data analysis to track fish health and optimise feeding methods. By adopting these sustainable feed solutions, aquaculture can become a more eco-friendly and responsible way to produce seafood in the future.

References

Ma, M. and Hu, Q. 2024. Microalgae as feed sources and feed additives for sustainable aquaculture: Prospects and challenges. Reviews in Aquaculture 16(2), pp. 818–835. doi: 10.1111/raq.12869.

Zantioti, C., Dimitroglou, A., Mountzouris, K.C., Miliou, H. and Malandrakis, E.E. 2025. Use of pigmented fungi as additives in aquaculture. Aquaculture International 33(3), p. 162. doi: 10.1007/s10499-025-01840-0.