Irida participates in FutureEUAqua study evaluating the use of an environmentally sustainable diet on health and welfare of Gilthead seabream

Our colleague, Phelly Vasilaki, in collaboration with partners from leading research institutes and universities across Europe, has completed a pivotal study under the FutureEUAqua H2020 scientific program. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of novel ingredients—such as protein yeast, krill meal, and plant proteins as partial replacements for fishmeal in aquafeeds. 

In a 135-day controlled lab trial, the study compared an innovative feed formulation to a conventional commercial feed, focusing on the impact of the diet on growth performance, physiological stress markers, immunity, health and welfare indicators, and energy expenditure in gilthead seabream.

The results showed that the innovative diet enhanced growth compared to fish fed the control diet. Hematological and biochemical indicators did not highlight any impaired welfare condition in fish fed innovative diet while higher levels of Immunoglobulin M were measured in plasma of fish fed innovative diet, potentially suggesting enhancement of humoral immunity. However, accelerometer tags data revealed that fish fed the innovative diet exhibited higher overall swimming activity, suggesting higher energy expenditure, which was consistent with greater prealbumin levels measured in the plasma.

The study has been published in “Aquaculture Research” scientific magazine and can be found here:   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2024/8234882