Implications for Fish Feeding Strategies Facing Fishmeal Replacement

Dear Colleagues,

Fish possess excellent nutritional characteristics that make them very attractive for human consumption, offering benefits such as long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential minerals, vitamins and easily digestible protein. These qualities have led to a significant increase in fish consumption, driven primarily by aquaculture rather than wild fisheries. The aquaculture industry faces the challenge of developing suitable feeds to ensure the growth and welfare of farmed fish. Fishmeal, which is rich in essential amino acids and fatty acids, is the most popular aquafeed option due to its high nutritional value, palatability and digestibility. However, the economic and environmental costs of fishmeal production are considerable, driving the search for alternative protein sources that are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. In recent decades, research has been performed in order to validate these new protein sources, ensuring that they meet nutritional requirements, are acceptable to fish, and have no negative impacts on welfare. This validation should involve both controlled studies and field trials to assess their real-world applicability.

The aim of this Special Issue is to compile original research or reviews that address the latest advances in fish nutrition, with a special focus on fishmeal replacement and species-specific fish feeding strategies. We are seeking research on the physiological and behavioural aspects of feeding, as well as field trials for diet validation. Manuscripts that employ diverse approaches, such as physiological measurements and behavioural observations, are particularly welcome.

Dr. Mauro Chivite Alcalde
Dr. Cristina Velasco Rubial
Dr. Monica Betancor
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainable aquaculture
• aquafeed
• fishmeal replacement
• alternative protein source
• nutrition
• welfare