Spanish scientists to develop probiotic aquafeed

Researchers from the universities of Almeria and Malaga are developing a method of feed production with probiotics intended for marine fish farmed in captivity.

The study begun in 2006 to look for a solution to disease transmission and contagion control in aquaculture.

The research concluded with the creation of the first system of encapsulation of microorganisms for use as nutritional complements.

The problem with the use of probiotics in marine fish farming is in its administration, as they can be diluted or not be ingested by the fish within the aquatic medium, according to Francisco Javier Alarcon Lopez, lead researcher and member of the group Nutrition and Animal Feeding of the University of Almeria.

The Department of Microbiology at the University of Malaga selected a bacterium of marine origin, of the Shewanella genus, as the most suitable to reach the proposed objective. The encapsulation method was designed by the team led by Alarcon Lopez.

Sodium alginate was chosen to create the spheres because it is a substance of a non-toxic nature, quite economical and easy to produce, said Alarcon Lopez.

The scientists said a pair of doses covers the daily amount of recommended probiotic and that they are visible to fish when dealing with macrospheres of two millimetres in diameter, which facilitates consumption. Natural scents and specific colourants for each aquaculture species were also incorporated to make them more appetising.

The researchers of the Department of Applied Biology at the University of Almeria are developing a second project to design and assess specific feed for flat fish.