Yogurt-Based Fermented Fish Silage from Fish Waste: A Cost-Effective and Sustainable Protein Alternative for Small-Scale Aquaculture

As global aquaculture continues to expand, the effective management of fish processing by-products, often accounting for up to 50% of total fish weight, has become a critical challenge. This review focuses on converting fish waste into functional feed through yogurt-mediated fermentation into fermented fish silage (FFS). Using a natural symbiotic mixture of Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Streptococcus thermophilus, small-scale businesses can achieve rapid acidification (pH < 4.5) and biostabilization without the cost of producing industrial fishmeal and the danger associated with traditional acid silage. Data indicate that yogurt-based fish silage increases protein bioavailability and can partially replace fishmeal in aquafeeds, offering a cost-effective alternative for sustainable fish production. This process supports an aquaculture-based circular economy, but further research on microbial communities and long-term fish health is needed to maximize the benefits of yogurt-based FFS.