Impacts of Feed Nutritional Quality on Growth, Immunity, and Environmental Outcomes of European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Keywords:
European seabass, alternative proteins, fishmeal replacement, immunity, water quality, sustainable aquacultureAbstract
This study tested the hypothesis that insect- and poultry-based diets would outperform plant protein and probiotic-supplemented formulations in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Juveniles (~10 g) were fed three isonitrogenous, isolipidic diets for 90 days: Diet A (Hermetia illucens + poultry by-product meal), Diet B (plant protein with microalgae and phytase), and Diet C (plant protein with probiotics). We expected Diet A to sustain superior growth, feed efficiency, and immunity while reducing water quality deterioration. Results confirmed this prediction: Diet A achieved the highest final weight (~97 g), best feed conversion (1.26), 100% survival, and strongest lysozyme activity, while also minimizing ammonia accumulation (0.18 mg L⁻¹). Diets B and C showed significantly lower performance in all traits. These findings demonstrate that balanced insect–poultry protein blends not only enhance seabass growth and health but also reduce nutrient waste, offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to fishmeal for Mediterranean aquaculture.
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