Terrestrial Sources of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Aquaculture

The review considers probable ways to overcome the deficiency of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in the human diet through the rational development of aquaculture. Currently, aquaculture is not a producer, but a consumer of polyunsaturated fatty acids, since it is based on feed, the main components of which are fishmeal and fish oil obtained from commercial catches. It is proposed to transform farmed fish from a consumer to producer of these polyunsaturated fatty acids. The source of production of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in aquaculture can be their synthesis by fish from short-chain alpha-linolenic acid contained in the oil of terrestrial agricultural plants. Calculations of the threshold value of the content of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in feed for salmon fish (Salmonidae) with partial replacement of fish oil with vegetable oil are presented. Another possible way to transform aquaculture into a producer of polyunsaturated fatty acids is to partially replace fishmeal in feed with flour from terrestrial invertebrates. Some species of insects and worms that are promising for aquaculture as objects for the production of feed meal are considered.