Utilization of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Fish Feed Ingredient

Abstract

A freshwater plant, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is commonly found in public waters in Indonesia. Water hyacinth often experiences blooming which causes negative impacts such as lowering oxygen levels, reducing the number of fish, increasing evapotranspiration, disrupting transportation, becoming habitat for disease vectors, and others. However, water hyacinth can be used as an alternative raw material because it still contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Water hyacinth also has potential as an antibacterial agent because it contains secondary metabolites (alkaloids, saponins, steroid compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, and cardiac glycosides). The utilization of water hyacinth as fish feed ingredient has been shown to give positive effect on the growth of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), goldfish (Cyprinus carpio), and Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) seeds. The use of water hyacinth as an alternative fish feed ingredient can be a solution to reduce production costs and reduce the impact of water hyacinth blooms.