Repurposing chitin-rich seafood waste for warm-water fish farming

Abstract

The pisciculture industry has grown multi-fold over the past few decades. However, a surge in development and nutrient demand has led to the establishment of numerous challenges. Being a potential solution, chitosan has gained attention as a bio nanocomposite for its well-acclaimed properties including biodegradability, non-toxicity, immunomodulatory effects, antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility. This biopolymer and its derivatives can be transformed into various structures, like micro and nanoparticles, for various purposes. Consequently, with regards to these properties chitin and its derivatives extend their application into drug delivery, food supplementation, vaccination, and preservation. This review focuses on the clinical advancements made in fish biotechnology via chitosan and its derivatives and highlights its prospective expansion into the pisciculture industry—in particular, warm-water species.

Keywords

• Pisciculture
• Crustaceans
• Chitin
• Chitosan
• Chito-oligosaccharides
• Fish biotechnology