Enhancing Rearing of European Seabass (<i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i>) in Aquaponic Systems: Investigating the Effects of Enriched Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Prepupae Meal on Fish Welfare and Quality Traits
Matteo Zarantoniello,
Adriana Alves de Oliveira,
Tolga Sahin,
Lorenzo Freddi,
Matteo Torregiani,
Isabella Tucciarone,
Giulia Chemello,
Gloriana Cardinaletti,
Elia Gatto,
Giuliana Parisi,
Cristiano Bertolucci,
Paola Riolo,
Ancuta Nartea,
Giorgia Gioacchini,
Ike Olivotto
Affiliations
Matteo Zarantoniello
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Adriana Alves de Oliveira
CIMAR/CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4450-208 Matoshinos, Portugal
Tolga Sahin
Department of Aquaculture, Marine Sciences and Technology Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17000 Çanakkale, Turkey
Lorenzo Freddi
Mj Energy srl Società Agricola, Contrada SS. Crocifisso, 22, 62010 Treia, Italy
Matteo Torregiani
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Isabella Tucciarone
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, 50144 Firenze, Italy
Giulia Chemello
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Gloriana Cardinaletti
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Elia Gatto
Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
Giuliana Parisi
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, 50144 Firenze, Italy
Cristiano Bertolucci
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
Paola Riolo
Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Ancuta Nartea
Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Giorgia Gioacchini
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Ike Olivotto
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Within the modern aquaculture goals, the present study aimed to couple sustainable aquafeed formulation and culturing systems. Two experimental diets characterized by 3 and 20% of fish meal replacement with full-fat spirulina-enriched black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) prepupae meal (HPM3 and HPM20, respectively) were tested on European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles during a 90-day feeding trial performed in aquaponic systems. The experimental diets ensured 100% survival and proper zootechnical performance. No behavioral alterations were evidenced in fish. Histological and molecular analyses did not reveal structural alterations and signs of inflammation at the intestinal level, highlighting the beneficial role on gut health of bioactive molecules typical of HPM or derived from the enriching procedure of insects’ growth substrate with spirulina. Considering the quality traits, the tested experimental diets did not negatively alter the fillet’s fatty acid profile and did not compromise the fillet’s physical features. In addition, the results highlighted a possible role of spirulina-enriched HPM in preserving the fillet from lipid oxidation. Taken together, these results corroborate the use of sustainable ingredients (spirulina-enriched HPM) in aquaponic systems for euryhaline fish rearing.
