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To develop 100% organic feed for organic aquaculture, mainly for the most produced species in Spain: sea bass, trout and sea bream. Both the ingredients included in the regulations will be taken into account: organic vegetable and fish meal; such as PATS (Processed Animal Proteins) of organic origin, mainly: poultry meal, Iberian pork and insect meal.

1.- Biochemical characterization, availability and price of organic ingredients

1.1 Biochemical characterization of organic ingredients

13 organic plant and animal ingredients have been analyzed, including macronutrients, amino acids and fatty acids.

1.2. Evaluation of the availability and price of organic ingredients

Plant ingredients have been obtained for the formulation of organic feed, but the availability of animal ingredients of organic origin has been very limited, as well as the obtaining and estimation of a market price.

2.- Feeding and growth tests

2.1. Sea bream feeding tests

Although the growth of sea bream with feed containing 100% animal protein gave a lower growth than organic feed with fishmeal, the possibility of sea bream growing without fishmeal has become evident, although efficiency needs to be improved by improving formulations with new eco animal ingredients.

Results were obtained on digestibility, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology, composition, shelf life of the fish, and sensory characteristics.

2.2. Tests of sea bass and shrimp feeding

Good growth curves of sea bass and shrimp have been obtained with some of the animal ingredients, mainly trout and Iberian by-products. Organic insect meal did not give good results.

In the case of prawns, commercial size specimens (20 g) have been obtained with organic animal ingredients, even with a 100% vegetable and organic diet, so it has been shown that it is possible to produce them without fishmeal.

Results were obtained on digestibility, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology, composition, shelf life of the fish, and sensory characteristics.

2.3. Trout feeding tests

Good growth was obtained with organic animal ingredients, somewhat lower than those of the organic control with fishmeal, but very promising, mainly with sea bass and Iberian by-products, whose growth was the same as the current feed consumed in the fish farm. Organic insect meal didn’t work well.

It has been shown that it is possible to feed and grow trout satisfactorily with 100% organic feed, without fishmeal.

Results were obtained on digestibility, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology, composition, shelf life of the fish, and sensory characteristics.

3.- Assessment of the economic productivity of the use of organic ingredients

The Economic Conversion Index (ECI) and the Economic Benefit Index (EII) of all the formulas used in the trials of sea bream, sea bass, trout and shrimp were determined, considering different price scenarios of the different animal ingredients of organic origin.

In the case of sea bream feed, the use of trout and Iberian by-product meal gave better economic results than the use of fishmeal, even in the most unfavourable price scenarios.

In trout feeding, the same happened with feed made from sea bass by-product and organic Iberian ham.

In the case of feed for sea bass, the mixture of trout and Iberian by-product meals was economically favourable, but only with moderate prices of these by-products.

In shrimp, the use of flour, trout or Iberian by-products improved the profitability of the feed, even with high prices of ingredients of organic animal origin.

These results open great expectations for the development of organic feed without fishmeal, using only protein ingredients of organic origin.