Aquaculture Europe 2025

September 22 - 25, 2025

Valencia, Spain

Add To Calendar 25/09/2025 16:45:0025/09/2025 17:00:00Europe/ViennaAquaculture Europe 2025EVALUATION OF Spirulina AND Azolla AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR FISHMEAL IN FORMULATED DIET FOR KOI CARP Cyprinus carpio var. koi REARED IN AN AQUAPONIC SYSTEMAUD 2, VCC - Floor 0The European Aquaculture Societywebmaster@aquaeas.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYaaVZHLXMfzTRLzDrHmAi181982

EVALUATION OF Spirulina AND Azolla AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR FISHMEAL IN FORMULATED DIET FOR KOI CARP Cyprinus carpio var. koi REARED IN AN AQUAPONIC SYSTEM

Wenresti Gallardo*, Fahad Al-Mashrafi, Abdullah Al-Alawi, Ahmed Al-Souti

 

Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

Email: gallardo@squ.edu.om



 Fishmeal is commonly used as a protein source in aquaculture feeds; however, there is a growing need to reduce its use due to sustainability concerns. This study evaluated the proximate composition (crude protein, lipid, fiber, ash, and nitrogen-free extract), palatability, attractability, and water stability of a formulated diet using Spirulina and Azolla as fishmeal replacements, as well as the growth performance of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) cultured in an aquaponic system.  Three different fishmeal replacement levels were tested: 30% and 50% replacement with  Spirulina and Azolla. The parameters measured included weight gain rate (WGR%), specific growth rate (SGR%), survival rate (%), feed efficiency (FE), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Water quality parameters—temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate—were monitored weekly.  There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the proximate composition, attractability, palatability, water stability, or growth performance between the diets containing  Spirulina  and Azolla and the control diet. Similarly, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the measured water quality parameters.  The results indicate that  Spirulina  and Azolla can successfully replace up to 50% of fishmeal in the formulated diet for koi carp without negatively affecting growth performance or water quality in an aquaponic system.