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

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是加强全球粮食安全。水产养殖是增长最快的农用工业，而世界渔业捕捞量已趋于平稳。因此，今天消费的所有海鲜中有一半是人工养殖的。不幸的是，至少30%的鱼饲料来自饲料鱼，即处于食物链底部的凤尾鱼和沙丁鱼。随着对饲料鱼需求的增长，而野生种群数量最多保持在同一水平，鱼粉和鱼油的价格每年攀升15%。显然，对FM&amp；O的依赖是不可持续的。为了让养鱼户在不滥用海洋生态系统的情况下茁壮成长，替代品是必不可少的。一种解决方案是使用蔬菜原料，如小麦和大豆，但这些都缺乏重要的omega-3脂肪酸。另一种是转向昆虫世界，特别是培养环保型黑兵蝇幼虫（BSFL）。幼虫被喂食与海带和/或微藻混合的海产品残渣，以便天然的omega-3通过。幼虫被干燥并分离成FM&amp； o状的粉和油。最重要的问题是：这能以竞争性的方式实现吗？显然，这是可能的，但需要一个2年的试验工厂来证明其实用性。拟议中的项目不仅将证明大量的BSFL可以用含有-3的废物和藻类来培养，而且还将证明美味、刺激生长和健康的替代鱼饲料是可行的。最好的方法是同时对多种物种进行喂养试验，包括孤立的海底生物，如黑海鲈鱼，或者是成群的上层生物，如加利福尼亚黄尾鱼。观察食物的适口程度很简单。但就像任何菜肴一样，有很多方法可以提高口感：活的、干燥的或颗粒状的，如果是后者，还需要单位大小、水分含量，甚至一些表面添加剂来赋予天然的味道。黑鲈鱼可能像螃蟹，加利福尼亚黄尾鱼可能像鱿鱼。这种改进通过提高成活率、缩短储罐时间和降低原料成本，带来了显著的经济利润。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，特别是只需要盐水的海洋物种，排放很少或不排放废物的再循环系统，当然，还有从苍蝇生物修复的废物中提取的替代食品。

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.