Table 3.

Microalgal biomass as an alternative or supplement to fishmeal and fish oil

Microalgae species	Aquaculture species	Fish oil/fish meal/dietary inclusion level replacement	Effects of algae biomass	Ref.
Schizochytrium	Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)	4% inclusion in the diet	Although shrimp survival, digestive enzyme activity, and fatty acid content were not affected, their specific growth rate was much higher than in the control group.	[118]
Dunaliella salina	Giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon)	5–10% incorporation in feed	The immune system and antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase) improved significantly and the survival rate was significantly boosted.	[119]
Phaeodactylum tricornutum	Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)	6% replacement of fish meal	There is no negative impact on growth, protein, lipids, energy, ash, growth performance, etc., in the feed that is used.	[109]
Nannochloropsis sp. and Isochrysis sp.	Juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)	15% fish meal protein replacement	Increased feed intake and fish growth. Survival, feed conversion ratios, and muscle ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acid levels did not differ between the treatment groups.	[120]
Schizochytrium sp.	Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)	100% replacement of fish oil	However, the survival rate did not alter substantially.	[85]
Nannochloropsis gaditana, T. chuii, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum	Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)	0.5 and 1% inclusion in feed	Increased defensive activity	[121]
Chlorella vulgaris	Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)	6–8% fish meal substitute	M. rosenbergii postlarvae had a faster growth rate, a better immunological response (total haemocyte count and prophenoloxidase activity), and were resistant to Aeromonas hydrophila infection.	[122]
Arthrospira sp.	Golden barb (Puntius gelius)	20% fishmeal substitute	Fish growth rates have increased significantly.	[123]
Pavlova viridis	European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	Fish oil replacement 50–100%	In terms of growth performance and nutrient consumption, there are no detrimental consequences on fish.	[124]
Nannochloropsis sp.
Nanofrustulum sp.	Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), common carp (Cyprinus carpio)	fish meal replacement 5 or 10%	Algal meal outperformed fish meal in terms of growth and feed intake, indicating that it may be used in place of fish meal.	[125]
Tetraselmis sp.	Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Arthrospira platensis	Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)	0.5–2% inclusion in feed	Enhanced fish health through tissue protection and antioxidant effects	[126]
Arthrospira sp.	Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)	Replacing fish meal by up to 43%	Unlike corn-gluten meal control, there was no deleterious impact on growth or feed consumption.	[242]