Prospects of microalgae as a tenable feed source for aquaculture

ABSTRACT Objective Microalgae have emerged as a promising source of potential natural feed alternative in aquaculture due to their high nutritional value and environmental benefits. Methods Microalgae like Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira platensis (also known as Spirulina platensis), Chlamydomonas, and Tribonema minus have been explored as marginal or supplementary feed items in aquatic organisms, highlighting their rich profile of vital elements, including lipids (especially omega-3), proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Incorporating microalgae (Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Euglenozoa, and Haptophyta) into aquatic animal diets enhances growth performance, boosts immunity, and reduces reliance on traditional feed sources. Results This review highlights the environmental benefits of microalgae cultivation, including carbon sequestration and wastewater treatment, and presents microalgae as a sustainable approach to mitigate aquaculture’s ecological impact in the long term. This review also examines challenges that are related to large-scale production, cost effectiveness, and variability in nutritional content, along with potential strategies to address these limitations. Conclusions Overall, this analysis highlights the significant contribution of microalgae to the advancement of sustainable aquaculture methods and identifies key areas for further investigation and improvement.