Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as an Alternative to Fishmeal in Aquaculture Nutrition

Abstract

The increasing aquaculture feed production and the decreasing resources of fishmeal imply that the generation of other sources of protein is a significant matter. A possible alternative that might replace fishmeal is larvae black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as it contains a high protein level (40-65%), balanced composition of amino acids, and antimicrobial peptides. This review observes the nutritional profile of BSFLM, bioavailability, impact of the nutrient on growth performance, immune modulation capacity and economic feasibility of aquaculture systems. Regardless of the fact that such advantages are observed as waste valorization and low environmental footprint, where the challenges still exist in the framework of chitin digestibility, the calcium-phosphorus ratio, and prone to lipid oxidation, the regulatory frameworks to be considered. The formulated BSFLM to be included in commercial aquafeeds should be based on strategic processing methods and species-specific formulations and conventional manufacturing mechanisms.