STTR Phase I: Developing Alternate Aquafeeds Utilizing Marine Invertebrates and Plants Cultured from Fish Fecal and Feed Waste

这项小型技术转让研究（STTR）第一阶段项目旨在开发一种替代水产饲料，这种饲料不依赖于捕获的海洋饲料鱼，如鲱鱼和沙丁鱼，因为其omega-3含量较高，适合在陆基循环水产养殖系统（RASs）中养殖海鱼。具体来说，六种替代鱼饲料将被配制、制成颗粒，并在18个室内咸水水箱中喂给加州黄尾鱼（Seriola lalandi），每个水箱可容纳80条鱼，大小从20克到450克不等。将使用一种传统的市售鱼饲料作为对照。适用性将通过试验组与对照组相比的生长和存活率来衡量。替代饲料将利用各种替代品来替代缺失的鱼粉，包括微藻、无脊椎动物（如沙虫）和昆虫来源的饲料。理想的替代饲料将具有价格竞争力，通常可获得，并且来自当地加工废物或养殖在水产养殖场鱼类生产自然产生的粪便和饲料废物中。后者在农业生态系统中是可行的，因为在一个相互作用的物种网络中，营养物质可以从一种作物流向另一种作物，这是有益的。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是证明替代水产饲料在技术上是可行的。与传统饲料相比，它们在价格上具有竞争力。销售含有大量捕获鱼类的传统鱼饲料的公司现在建议客户预计每年的价格上涨，因为水产养殖的增长加上过度捕捞压力分别影响了需求和供应。当然，这种上涨在短期内是可以适应的，但水产养殖者有必要开发替代品，因为他们只能将价格提高到一定程度，在海鲜消费者转向其他蛋白质时，他们的产品与渔业捕捞失去竞争力。积极的一面是，海鲜经销商、厨师和消费者越来越关注海鲜是否具有可持续性。那就是它是滥用还是有助于健康的全球生态系统。因此，一个明显的商业机会正在出现，也许一开始是一个利基市场，但随着水产养殖的继续增长，几乎可以肯定的是一个非常大的市场。

This Small Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project seeks to develop an alternate aquafeed that does not rely on the inclusion of captured, oceanic forage fish such as menhaden and sardines for its omega-3 content and is suitable for culturing marine fish in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). Specifically, six alternate fish feeds will be formulated, pelletized and fed to California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) in 18 saltwater, indoor tanks, containing 80 fish per tank in a size range starting at 20 grams up to 450 grams. A conventional, commercially available fish feed will be used as a control. Suitability will be measured by how well the growth and survival rates of the test group compare to the control group. The alternate feeds will utilize various substitutes for the absent fish meal, including microalgae, invertebrates such as sandworms and insect-derived meal. The ideal alternate feed will be price competitive, generally available and sourced from local processing wastes or cultured in the fecal and fed waste naturally generated from fish production in an aquafarm. The latter is feasible within RASs since the flow of nutrients can be directed beneficially from one crop to another in a web of interactive species.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to demonstrate that alternate aquafeeds are technically feasible. They can be price-competitive with conventional feeds. Companies selling conventional fish feed containing a substantial component of captured fish now advise customers to anticipate annual price raises as the growth of aquaculture combined with excessive fishing pressure impacts demand and supply respectively. Certainly the rise can be accommodated in the short term, but it behooves aquafarmers to develop alternatives since they can only raise prices to a point after which they become uncompetitive with fisheries catch while seafood customers turn to other protein. On the positive side, there is a growing concern by seafood distributors, chefs and consumers whether seafood is or is not ?sustainable?, that is whether it abuses or contributes to a healthy global ecosystem. Thus, a clear commercial opportunity is emerging, perhaps as a niche market at the outset, but almost certainly a very large market in time as aquaculture continues to grow.