Sustainable replacement of fishmeal with Artemia biomass in diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study evaluated the effects of substituting fishmeal with Artemia biomass in aquaculture diets on growth performance and muscle composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four dietary treatments were administered in triplicate to juvenile Nile tilapia (19-21 g) stocked in 1m x 1m cages in a pond at 30 fish per cage for 84 days. The diets were AT0 (0% Artemia biomass), AT50 (50% replacement), AT100 (100% replacement), and COMM (Commercial pellets). Initial measurements showed no significant differences in fish length and weight across treatments. However, final assessments revealed that fish fed AT100 and COMM diets exhibited significantly higher final weights, specific growth rates (SGR), daily weight gains (DWG), and percentage weight gain (WG%) compared to those on AT0 and AT50 diets. Additionally, feed conversion ratios (FCR) improved with increased Artemia inclusion, indicating enhanced feed efficiency. Muscle composition analysis also showed elevated protein and lipid levels in fish fed AT100 and COMM diets, while carbohydrates and ash contents declined with increasing levels of Artemia biomass meal in diets. These findings demonstrate that Artemia biomass can effectively replace fishmeal in tilapia diets, while promoting better growth performance and muscle quality. This substitution offers a sustainable and nutritionally viable alternative to traditional fishmeal-based aquafeeds. Further research should assess long-term effects of Artemia-based diets across different fish species and life stages to validate these findings and optimize feeding strategies.