SBIR Phase II: Developing Alternate Aquafeeds by Using Sustainable Methods of Bio-remediation of Seafood Residuals

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是加强全球粮食安全。水产养殖业是增长最快的农业，而世界渔业捕捞量已经持平。因此，今天消费的所有海鲜中有一半是养殖的。不幸的是，至少30%的鱼饲料来自饲料鱼，即处于食物链基础的鲱鱼和沙丁鱼。随着对饲料鱼的需求不断增长，而野生鱼类数量最多保持在一个水平，鱼粉和鱼油（FM 0）的价格每年攀升15%。显然，依赖FM O是不可持续的。为了使养鱼户在不破坏海洋生态系统的情况下茁壮成长，替代品至关重要。一个解决方案是使用以蔬菜为基础的成分，如小麦和大豆，但这些缺乏重要的欧米茄-3脂肪酸。另一种方法是转向昆虫世界，特别是通过培养生态友好的黑水虻幼虫（BSFL）。幼虫被喂食与海带和/或微藻混合的海鲜残渣，以便天然omega-3通过。将幼虫干燥并分离成FMO样粗粉和油。首要的问题是：能否通过竞争实现这一目标？显然这是可能的，但需要一个2年的试点工厂来证明其实用性。 拟议的项目不仅将证明可以使用含有omega-3的废物和藻类培养大量的BSFL，而且替代鱼类饲料是可行的，可以刺激生长并赋予健康。这是最好的实现，同时进行喂养试验与各种物种，包括孤立的底部居民，如黑海鲈鱼，或者，学校的远洋生物，如加州黄尾鱼。观察适口性的程度是直接的。但与任何美食一样，有许多方法可以提高产品质量：活的、干的或颗粒状的，如果是后者，单位大小、水分含量，甚至一些表面添加剂可以赋予自然的味道？黑鲈可能像螃蟹，而加州黄尾鱼可能像鱿鱼。这种改进由于更好的存活率、更短的在罐中的时间和更便宜的成分而给予显著的经济利润。在地方一级，农民和消费者都受益，而在全球范围内，这些收益可以对粮食安全产生有利影响，特别是对于只需要盐水的海洋物种，以及排放很少或没有废物的再循环系统，当然，还有来自苍蝇生物修复废物的替代食品。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enhance global food security. Aquaculture is the fastest growing agroindustry while the world fisheries catch has leveled out. Consequently, half of all seafood consumed today is farmed. Unfortunately, at least 30% of fish feed is derived from forage fish, the anchovy and sardine-types at the base of the food chain. With demand for forage fish growing while wild populations remain level at best, the price of fish meal and oil (FM&0) climbs by 15% yearly. Clearly, dependence on FM&O is unsustainable. For fish farmers to thrive without abusing the oceanic ecosystem, substitutes are essential. One solution is to use vegetable-based ingredients such as wheat and soy, but these lack vital omega-3 fatty acids. Another is to turn to the insect world, especially by culturing ecofriendly black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). The larvae are fed seafood residuals mixed with marine kelp and/or microalgae so that the natural omega-3 passes through. The larvae are dried and separated into FM&O-like meal and oil. The overarching question is: can this be accomplished competitively? Apparently it is possible, but a 2-year pilot plant is required to prove the practicality. The proposed project will not only demonstrate that very large volumes of BSFL can be cultured using omega-3 loaded wastes and algae, but that substitute fish feeds that are palatable, stimulate growth and confer health are feasible. This is best achieved by simultaneously conducting feeding trials with a variety of species, including isolated bottom dwellers such as black sea bass and, alternatively, schooling pelagic creatures such as California yellowtail. Observing degrees of palatability is straight forward. But as with any cuisine there are numerous ways to enhance the offering: live, dried or pelletized and, if the latter, unit size, moisture content and even some surface additive that confers a natural taste ? perhaps crab-like for black sea bass and squid-like for California yellowtail. Such refinements grant significant economic margins by virtue of better survival rates, shorter time in the tanks and less costly ingredients. At this local level, both the farmer and the consumer benefit while globally these gains can favorably impact food security, especially with marine species that only require saltwater, with recirculating system that discharge little or no waste and, of course, with substitute foodstuff derived from waste bio-remediated by flies.