Marine amphipods from Mediterranean aquaculture: Microbial profiling and first insights into their suitability as human food

Marine amphipods are common in fouling communities of aquaculture facilities and may represent a sustainable alternative protein source, similar to other invertebrates like mussels or sea urchins. This study provides the first microbiological characterisation of amphipods collected from an aquaculture facility, focusing on microbial loads, potential food-borne pathogens, and the effectiveness of decontamination treatments. Amphipods were harvested using in situ collectors, and their associated microbial communities were analysed through culture-dependent methods and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Major food-borne pathogens were absent in all samples, although environmental bacteria, including Vibrio species, were detected at significant levels. Two decontamination strategies—freshwater immersion and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation—were tested. Freshwater treatment substantially reduced total bacterial loads, including Vibrio spp., enhancing microbiological safety. In contrast, UV treatment showed limited effectiveness and may require further optimisation. These findings support the potential of amphipods as a safe and sustainable food resource and highlight the importance of selecting effective post-harvest disinfection methods to ensure safety for aquaculture and human consumption. • Microbiological profile of amphipods growing in an aquaculture facility is showed. • All samples were free of major food-borne pathogens. • Best practices for the extraction and conservation of amphipods are proposed. • Amphipods which can be used as human food. • A baseline for the microbiological risk assessment of IMTA products is provided.