Introduction
Shrimp farming is one of the most valuable sectors of global aquaculture, but commercial production is still mainly based on a limited number of species. Therefore, alternative penaeid species are needed to support production diversity and reduce risks related to disease, environmental stress, and market dependency. Brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus, also referred to as Penaeus aztecus in recent literature) is a promising candidate due to its commercial value, adaptation capacity, and recent records from the Mediterranean Sea. However, information on its culture performance and nutritional requirements remains limited. Biofloc technology (BFT) is a sustainable culture approach in which microbial aggregates contribute to water quality control and may also serve as an additional nutritional source for shrimp. In BFT systems, diet formulation and microbial dynamics are closely linked. Therefore, protein level, prebiotics, probiotics, microalgae-based ingredients, and synbiotic combinations should be evaluated together with growth, feed utilization, immune response, and gut microbiota.
This paper synthesizes three recent studies conducted with brown shrimp under BFT conditions (Genc et al., 2024a, 2024b; Kaya, 2025). These studies focused on dietary protein optimization, mannan oligosaccharide supplementation, and enriched synbiotic diets containing probiotics, Arthrospira, and MOS. Together, they provide a practical basis for developing BFT-based feeding strategies for brown shrimp.
Biofloc-Based Nutritional Strategies for Brown shrimp
Biofloc technology links water quality, microbial biomass, and nutrition, and therefore provides a useful culture model for brown shrimp. In the reviewed studies, juvenile brown shrimp adapted well to BFT conditions and responded positively to targeted dietary strategies.
In the protein optimization study, 29%, 32%, 35%, and 38% dietary protein levels were tested on brown shrimp. Growth performance improved up to 35%, suggesting that this level can be used as a practical reference for further feeding studies under BFT conditions (Genc et al., 2024a).
In the MOS study, 0 - 4 g kg-1 mannan oligosaccharide was evaluated for 90 days. The best overall response was observed at 3 g kg-1 MOS, with improvements in growth, feed utilization, digestive activity, immune response, and gut microbiota-related parameters of brown shrimp (Genc et al., 2024b).
In the enriched synbiotic study, probiotics, Arthrospira, and MOS were tested individually and in combination. The combined enriched synbiotic diets produced stronger growth and immune-related responses than single or dual additive applications, indicating that functional feed strategies can strengthen BFT-based brown shrimp culture (Kaya, 2025).
Conclusion
The reviewed studies collectively indicate that biofloc technology can provide a practical and sustainable culture framework for brown shrimp. Beyond water quality management, BFT systems link nutrition, microbial dynamics, digestion, and immune status. From this perspective, the culture success of brown shrimp depends not only on the system itself, but also on well-planned dietary strategies. Optimized protein nutrition and functional additives such as MOS, probiotics, and Arthrospira may contribute to more efficient and healthier production. These completed studies also provide a scientific background for our ongoing T��B��TAK 1004 Tr.Aqua project, Project No. 22AG009. Within APYOK - Project 2, we are currently evaluating PHB-enriched biofloc technology and antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-based functional feed strategies in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) culture.
Acknowledgment
This extended abstract was prepared within the framework of the T��B��TAK 1004 Programme, Project No. 22AG009, "Tr.Aqua: Innovative and Sustainable Practices in Aquaculture within the Framework of Food Supply Security." The authors acknowledge the APYOK – Project 2 team, entitled "Effects of Poly-Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and Antimicrobial Peptide (AMP) Ratios in Feed on Aquaculture Yield, Microbiota Profiling and Immune Gene Expression of Marine Shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei and Farfantepenaeus aztecus) in Biofloc Technology," for their contributions to the ongoing project framework. The authors also acknowledge ASC Deniz ve Su ��r��nleri San. Tic. Ltd. ��ti. (Milas, Mugla, T��rkiye) for its sectoral collaboration and contribution to the academic–industry interface of the project. Further information on the Tr.Aqua platform is available at: https://www.traqua.org/traqua-english-2/
References
Genc, E., Kaya, D., Genc, M. A., Keskin, E., Yavuzcan, H., Guroy, D., Gurler, A., Yaras, K. U., Pipilos, A., Ozbek, B. F., Harmansa Yilmaz, B., & Aktas, M. (2024) Effect of biofloc technology in Farfantepenaeus aztecus culture: The optimization of dietary protein level on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, non-specific immune response, and intestinal microbiota. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 55(2), e13041. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13041
Genc, E., Kaya, D., Genc, M. A., Keskin, E., Yavuzcan, H., Guroy, D., & Aktas, M. (2024) Effect of dietary mannan oligosaccharide inclusion on production parameters of Farfantepenaeus aztecus cultured in a biofloc system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 55(5), e13086. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13086
Kaya, D. (2025) Improvement of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) culture parameters through dietary enriched synbiotic in a biofloc system. Aquaculture International, 33, 232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-025-01909-w