Enzymatic fish protein hydrolysates in finfish aquaculture: a review

Muhammad A.B Siddik,Ravi Fotedar,Gavin J Partridge,Janet Howieson

doi:10.1111/raq.12481

Abstract

AbstractIn intensive farming systems, fish are held at high densities, which may increase stress, leading to susceptibility to diseases that result in economic losses. Therefore, effective feeding practices incorporating health‐promoting compounds such as proteins, hydrolysates and bioactive peptides that can stimulate the defence mechanisms of fish and achieve better growth are some of the priorities for sustainable aquaculture development. Globally, the fish processing industries generate and discard a large volume of waste every year, estimated at up to 60% of the harvested biomass. This waste can be converted to value‐added products such as fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) with the addition of various proteolytic enzymes. FPH from fish processing waste including skin, heads, muscle, viscera, liver and bones is a good source of protein, amino acids, peptides and antioxidants and has been found to possess desirable functional and bioactive peptides. A moderate inclusion of FPH in aquafeeds has the potential to improve growth, feed utilization, immune functions and disease resistance of fish. Production of FPH, targeted to more precise molecular weight ranges, has superior functionalities that are in high demand. With interest in FPH as an aquafeed supplement, this review aimed to summarize the source, production processes and functional properties of FPH and the reported impact of FPH in aquafeed supplement on fish growth, survival, feed utilization, immune response and disease resistance. Possible limitations of using FPH and future research potential as an opportunity for the use of processing fish waste are also discussed.

Highlights

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the world, supporting the protein needs for an increasing human population (FAO 2018)
The present review has focused on production of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) based on enzymatic processes
This work overviewed the production of FPH and bioactive peptides from fish waste, and their potential effects on growth, feed utilization, biochemical response and immune performance of finfish in aquaculture production

Summary

Introduction

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the world, supporting the protein needs for an increasing human population (FAO 2018). This rapidly expanding sector is being marred by the occurrence of various diseases, leading to high mortalities (Hoseinifar et al 2018; Kibenge 2019). The use of antibiotics, disinfectants and chemotherapeutic drugs has been increasing to protect the farmed animals from invasive pathogens. Such applications as an approach to combat pathogens have been questioned. To reduce the dependency on external medicines, the application of vaccines, microbial intervention (bioremediation, fermentation), probiotics and immune stimulants are key topics of aquaculture research

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