This document discusses the use of seaweeds as an ingredient in aquafeeds. Seaweeds provide valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds. They have high protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fatty acids. Studies show seaweed flour can replace up to 20% of fishmeal in diets with no negative effects on growth rates in fish. Seaweed inclusion in aquafeeds may improve growth performance, feed efficiency, and disease resistance compared to conventional feeds. More research is still needed to fully understand the benefits of seaweeds for aquaculture nutrition.

1. SEAWEEDS
AN AQUAFEED INGREDIENTS
S.SUBRAMANIYAN
FNFT- MA2-05

2. MACRO ALGAE
 Pharmaceutical plant of 21St century.
 Yields valuable phycocolloids
 Agarophytes, Alginophytes, Plants
 Nutraceuticals

3. USES IN AQUAFEEDS
 Non Conventional Feed Resources.
 Seaweed flour
 15-20 % Replacement in Fish meal
 Unique biochemical composition

4. PROXIMATE COMPOSITION
COMPOSITION %
Moisture 10- 12
Crude protein 5-26
Crude lipid 0.5- 10
Crude fibre 3-5
Ash 15-20

5. AMINO ACIDS COMPOSITION
AMINO ACIDS % IN TOTAL AMINO ACIDS
Arginine 4.3-8.5
Histidine 1.2-2.1
Isoleucine 2.5-3.5
Leucine 4.6-.6.5
Lysine 3.5-4.5
Methionine 1.4-2.6
Phenylalanine 5.2-7.2
Tryptophan 0.0-0.5
Tyrosine 4.5-.8
Valine 4.0-5.1

6. FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION
FATTY ACIDS % IN TOTAL FATTY ACIDS
14:0 1.1-5.2
14:1(n-5) 0.29-0.98
16:0 8.2-33.41
16:1(n-7) 1.02-4.5
16:4 (n- 3) 2.25- 14.45
18:0 0.5-5.5
18: 1 ( n-7) 3.8-12.77
18:1 (n-9) 0.7-5.9
18:2 (n-6) 0.6-5.4
18:3 (n-3) 3.1-11.1
18:4 (n-3) 1.6-20.4
20:4 ( n-3) 0.4-3.5
22:5 (n-3) 0.5-1.8

7. VITAMINS
VITAMINS AVAILABILITY IN 1 KG OF SEAWEED
VITAMIN A 1000 IU
VITAMIN B1 5 MG
VITAMIN B2 6-10 MG
VITAMIN B6 0.1-0.5 MG
VITAMIN B12 100-300 IU
VITAMIN C 50-150 MG
VITAMIN D3 1000-2000 IU
VITAMIN E 20-450 MG
VITAMIN K 10 MG

8. MINERALS
MINERALS AVAILABILITY IN 1 KG OF SEAWEEDS
MANGANESE 60- 400 MG
IRON 620-1400 MG
ZINC 12-37 MG
COPPER 5-10 MG
IODINE 160- 780 MG
SELENIUM 0.3-1.0 MG
CALCIUM 2100- 7100 MG
MOLYBDATE 2-10 MG

9. NUTRACEUTICALS
• Bio active compounds
• Secondary metabolites
• Antibacterial activity :- extract from red seaweeds
• Antimicrobial activity :- Fatty acids from Ceramium sp.
• Immunostimulants :- Increase prophenoloxidae
against Vibrio sp.

10. Contd…
• Antioxidant property:-Polyphenols & vitamin E
from brown seaweeds
• Seaweeds polyphenols are phlorotannin that
prevent the oxidative stress.
• Lipid extract shows synergistic effect with
tocopherol.

11. COMPARISION OF GROWTH RATE
• Feeding trial done in Salmo salar smolts
( 15 % seaweed mixed diet ) showed a 14 % higher
growth rate than the other reference diets.
• 100 % replacement resulted in reduced growth .
• FCR :
SBD : 0.975/kg feed
Reference Diet : 0.957 / kg feed
• 0.025% Better than reference diet ( Dr. Stefan kraan & colin
mair ,OHT, Miltown , Ireland.)

12. CONCLUSION
• Very high quality diet for fishes with good
biochemical composition.
• Improvements in growth rate, FCR , Flavour &
texture quality .
• Good immune defenses.
• Still there are some experiments needs to be
done to know about its benefits in
formulation of aqua feed.

13. REFERENCES CITED
• Kaliaperumal et al., ( 1987 ) Chemical
composition of seaweeds. In: Seaweed research
& utilization of India P.S.B.R. James ( eds.)
CMFRI., Cochin pp 231- 50.
• Dr. Stefan kraan & colin mair,OHT, Miltown ,
Ireland., Nov-Dec 2010 International aqua feed
pp 10- 14.
• R. Alan Brindo & Dr.N. Felix ( July 2008 )
seaweeds as disease preventing Nutraceuticals in
modern aqua nutrition ., Aqua international. Pp
22-24.