Mexico researchers develop new, cheap fishmeal alternative

Experts at Mexico's Food and Development Research Centre (CIAD) have developed an aquaculture feed that will serve to replace the more expensive fishmeal.

The initiative focused on assessing alternative protein sources derived from shrimp and tuna, and pork and fowl, said Crisantema Hernandez Gonzalez, researcher at the Regional Unit of Mazatlan, in the state of Sinaloa.

The rapid expansion, intensity and diversification of aquaculture has driven up the use of foods formulated with fishmeal as a main protein source, Hernandez Gonzalez said.

Fishmeal's high price and unstable supply, however, has prompted the search for new foods for domestic aquaculture species, particularly tilapia and shrimp.

Since 1995, research on the potential of cheaper raw materials has been ongoing. Raw materials originating from animal slaughterhouses, and fish and shellfish processing, have been examined as alternative protein sources to fishmeal. For example, species fed pork byproducts assimilate them well, gain weight, grow, and develop adequately, all at a lower cost.

CIAD will also conduct a study on feeding red porgy, narrow-headed puffer, and cobia with seafood and pork byproducts, Hernandez Gonzalez said.