Anchovy by-product meal as a circular aquafeed ingredient for reducing fishmeal dependence in diets for juvenile hybrid grouper ( Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceola

Abstract

The increasing demand for aquafeed ingredients and the accumulation of fishery processing waste have raised major sustainability concerns in aquaculture. Valorization of fishery by-products into feed ingredients represents a promising strategy to reduce environmental impacts. This study evaluated the potential of anchovy by-products meal (ABPM), derived from anchovy processing waste, as a partial replacement for fishmeal (FM) in the diet of juvenile hybrid grouper ( Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ ×  Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂). The biochemical compositions of ABPM, including proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid profile, and mineral composition, were analyzed and compared with FM and soybean meal (SBM). Three isoproteic (50 % crude protein) and isolipidic (12 % crude lipid) diets were formulated: FM100 (100 % FM protein), FMSBM (30 % FM protein replaced with SBM), and FMABPM (30 % FM protein replaced with ABPM). Juvenile hybrid grouper (initial body weight: 16.50 ± 0.05 g) were fed the experimental diets for eight weeks. Biochemical analyses showed that ABPM contained significantly higher ( p  < 0.05) crude protein and lipid contents than SBM, although lower than FM. Its amino acid and fatty acid profiles were also generally superior to SBM, particularly in essential amino acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fish fed the FMABPM diet exhibited comparable growth performance, feed utilization, body condition, and whole-body composition to those fed FM100. These findings indicate that replacing 30 % of FM protein with ABPM protein is feasible without compromising fish performance and health. The reutilization of anchovy by-products into aquafeed ingredients could support sustainable local aquaculture and promote circular economy practices through resource recovery.