WO2025125658A1

WO2025125658A1 - Aquaculture feed

Info

Publication number: WO2025125658A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/086414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ester SANTIGOSA CULI; Andre VENTE
Original assignee: DSM IP Assets BV
Current assignee: DSM IP Assets BV
Priority date: 2023-12-14
Filing date: 2024-12-13
Publication date: 2025-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish with an improved sustainability profile where Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) is reduced by use of a single cell protein (SCP) as a partially or complete replacement of fish-meal, optionally used in combination with a non-marine or vegetable oil and to the use of a Single Cell Protein (SCP) composition in an aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish for partially or completely replacing the fishmeal component.

Description

AQUACULTURE FEED

Field of the invention

The world's population is growing and so is the demand for food, including the demand for meat, dairy products and seafood. Animal feeding requires considerable amounts of protein for ensuring optimal growth and fattening of animals, with a major source of protein currently consisting of plants in traditional breeding. However, plant- derived proteins tend to be poorly converted into animal-derived protein. Furthermore, plant-derived protein production is associated with potential ethical conflicts between food and feed production.

Aquaculture is a form of agriculture that involves the propagation, cultivation and marketing of aquatic animals and plants in a controlled environment. The aquaculture industry is currently the fastest growing food production sector in the world. World aquaculture produces approximately 60 million tons of seafood, which is worth more than $70 billion (US) annually. Today, farmed fish accounts for approximately 50% of all fish consumed globally. This percentage is expected to increase as a result of dwindling catches from capture fisheries in both marine and freshwater environments and increasing seafood consumption (i.e., total and per capita). Today, species groups in aquaculture production include, for example: carps and other cyprinids; oysters; clams, cockles and ark shells; shrimps and prawns; salmons, trouts and smelts; mussels; tilapias and other cichlids; and scallops.

While some aqua-cultured species (e.g., Tilapia) can be fed on an entirely vegetarian diet, many others species are fed a carnivorous diet. Typically, the feed for carnivorous fish comprises fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild caught species of small pelagic fish (predominantly anchovy, jack mackerel, blue whiting, capelin, sandeel and menhaden). These pelagic fish are processed into fishmeal and fish oil, with the final product often being either a pelleted or flaked feed, depending on the size of the fish. The other components of the aquaculture feed composition may include vegetable protein, vitamins, minerals and pigment as required.

Thus, feeding in aquaculture is increasingly based on a combination of plant-derived protein sources and alternatives like fish meal. However, fish meal is often obtained by catching wild fish stocks and hence, may not be considered a sustainable alternative either. Also, the culture of fish and crustaceans for example is becoming increasingly intensive and resource consuming. Thus, breeders, and hence the animal-protein derived protein production industry, including the aquaculture industry, need new protein sources to keep growing at high speed. However, health and welfare of the animals has to be ensured and their growth optimized, whilst moving away from traditional protein sources and especially also wild marine ingredients. Thus, feed millers and farmers require alternative solutions for protein production to be able to provide low carbon footprint diets while ensuring an environmental-friendly use of the planet's resources.

Hence, there is still a need to have at hand an animal feed for carnivorous fish that comprises protein from an alternative protein source and thus, ideally protein that is neither animal- nor plant-derived, and that provides a low carbon footprint.

Summary of the invention

Surprisingly, inventors have found that a more sustainable aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish with an improved sustainability profile can be achieved by replacing fishmeal in the diet partly or even completely by addition of a SCP compositions, optionally combined with a non-marine oil having high concentrations of PUFAs, while maintaining growth and performance of the aqua species.

In particular the invention is related to an aquaculture feed composition (diet) for carnivorous fish, characterized int that fishmeal as protein-source is partially or completely replaced by the SCP composition and that the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of said feed composition (diet is below 0.5.

Preferably the FFDR of the final feed composition is < 0.4, more preferably < 0.3.

Preferably, in said composition fish oil is partially or completely replaced by a nonmarine oil having high concentrations of PUFAs, such as a DHA content of at least 30%, preferably DHA and EPA.

Preferably, the SCP refers to microbial proteins or dead dried cells of microorganisms. More preferably “SCP compositions” derive from a unicellular microorganism classified as a member of the fungus kingdom, said term preferably relates to yeast cells. Herein, yeast is preferably Saccharomycetales yeast.

Further, the invention relates to the use of a Single Cell Protein (SCP) composition in an aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish for partially or completely replacing the fishmeal component. Preferably, the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of said feed composition is maintained below 0.5, while maintaining the growth and performance of the aqua species.

The non-marine oil comprising DHA, preferably DHA and EPA, according to the present invention may be derived from a microbial source or a vegetable source. Preferably, the oil is obtained from an algae, fungi or yeast. Preferred algae are Thraustochytrids which are microorganisms of the order Thraustochytriales.

Thraustochytrids include members of the genus Schizochytrium and

Thraustochytrium and have been recognized as an alternative source of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA.

Definitions

Aquatic Animal: The term “aquatic animal” refers to crustaceans including but not limited to shrimps and prawns and fish including but not limited to amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, bocachico, bream, bullhead, cachama, carp, catfish, catla, chanos, char, cichlid, cobia, cod, crappie, dorada, drum, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, mojarra, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearlspot, pejerrey, perch, pike, pompano, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, sea bass, seabream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, snook, sole, spinefoot, sturgeon, sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, vendace, walleye and whitefish. Preferably, the aquatic animal is a carnivorous fish, preferably salmon.

Feed or Aquaculture feed: The term “Feed” or “Aquaculture feed” or “feed composition” refers to any compound, preparation, or mixture suitable for, or intended for intake by farm animals, preferably aquatic animals, preferably carnivorous fish, preferably salmon. An animal feed for aquatic animals typically comprises high protein and energy concentrations, such as fish meal, molasses, oligosaccharide concentrates as well as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, direct fed microbial, amino acids and/or other feed ingredients (such as in a premix). Aquaculture feed refers to a manufactured or artificial diet (i.e. , formulated feed) to supplement or to replace natural feed, which is most commonly produced in form of flakes or pellets. Typically, an aquaculture feed may be in the form of flakes or pellets, for example extruded pellets.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids ["PUFAs"]: The term polyunsaturated fatty acids ["PUFAs"] The term "polyunsaturated fatty acid" and "PLIFA" include not only the free fatty acid form, but also other forms, such as triacylglycerols (TAG) in the form of, phospholipid (PL) and other forms of esterified forms. Additional details concerning the differentiation between "saturated fatty acids" versus "unsaturated fatty acids", "monounsaturated fatty acids" versus "polyunsaturated fatty acids" ["PUFAs"], and "omega-6 fatty acids" ["00-6" or "n-6"] versus "omega-3 fatty acids" ["00-3" or "n-3"] are provided in U.S. Patent 7,238,482.

Eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]: The term "Eicosapentaenoic acid" ["EPA"] is the common name for eis-5, 8, 11 ,14, 17-eicosapentaenoic acid. This fatty acid is a 20:5 omega-3 fatty acid. The term EPA as used in the present disclosure will refer to the acid or derivatives of the acid (e.g., glycerides, esters, phospholipids, amides, lactones, salts or the like) unless specifically mentioned otherwise.

Docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]: The term "Docosahexaenoic acid" ["DHA"] is the common name for eis-4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19-docosahexaenoic acid. This fatty acid is a 22:6 omega-3 fatty acid. The term DHA as used in the present disclosure will refer to the acid or derivatives of the acid (e.g., glycerides, esters, phospholipids, amides, lactones, salts or the like) unless specifically mentioned otherwise.

Fish oil: The term "Fish oil" refers to oil derived from the tissues of an oily fish. Examples of oily fish include, but are not limited to: menhaden, anchovy, herring, capelin, cod and the like. Fish oil is a typical component of feed used in aquaculture.

Vegetable oil: "Vegetable oil" refers to any edible oil obtained from a plant. Typically plant oil is extracted from seed or grain of a plant. The term "triacylglycerols" ["TAGs"] refers to neutral lipids composed of three fatty acyl residues esterified to a glycerol molecule.

Microbial oil: The term "microbial oil" refers to oil that has been separated from cellular materials, such as the microorganism in which the oil was synthesized. Microbial oils are obtained through a wide variety of methods, the simplest of which involves physical means alone. For example, mechanical crushing using various press configurations (e.g., screw, expeller, piston, bead beaters, etc.) can separate oil from cellular materials. Alternatively, oil extraction can occur via treatment with various organic solvents (e.g., hexane), via enzymatic extraction, via osmotic shock, via ultrasonic extraction, via supercritical fluid extraction (e.g., CO2 extraction), via saponification and via combinations of these methods. An extracted oil may be further purified or concentrated. In a preferred embodiment, the microbial oil is an oil derived from a species of Schizochytrium sp. ATCC PTA-10208, as for example the commercial oil product available under the Trademarks OvegaGold® or Veramaris®.

Detailed Description

FFDR describes the quantity of wild fish meal and/or wild fish oil used in feeds in relation to the farmed fish produced. FFDR is calculated following the ASC Salmon Standard (https://www.asc-aqua.org/).

Calculations

• FFDRmeal = (% of fish meal in feed from forage fisheries x eFCR)/24

• FFDRoil = % of fish oil in feed from forage fisheries/fish oil yield (5.0 or 7.0 depending on source of wild fish) x eFCR. eFCR is 1 .3 to allow for standard comparison between diets. eFCR = Economic feed conversion ratio is the quantity of feed used to produce the quantity of fish harvested (net production is the live weight)

• eFCR = Feed (kg or mt) I Net aquaculture production (kg or mt, wet weight)

(The percentage of fishmeal and fish oil excludes fishmeal and fish oil derived from fisheries’ by-products. Only fishmeal and fish oil that is derived directly from a pelagic fishery or fisheries where the catch is directly reduced (such as krill or blue whiting) is to be included in the calculation of F FDR.

The amount of fishmeal in the diet is calculated back to live fish weight by using a yield of 24%. This is the average yield.)

In the case of salmon currently, in most cases the FFDR for fish oil (FFDRoil) will be higher than that for fishmeal (FFDRmeal). The formula above calculates the dependency of a single site on wild forage fish resources, independent of any other farm.

In the context of the present invention, “SCP” refers to a protein obtained by and/or derived from a (unicellular) microorganism. Thus, an SCP may refer to a protein purified and/or isolated from a microorganism’s cell culture for example. Alternatively or additionally, SCPs may refer to microbial proteins are the dead dried cells of microorganisms. Hence, an “single cell protein product” or “SCP product” may or may not comprise one or more selected from the group of intact (unicellular) microorganism cells, disrupted (unicellular) microorganism cells, isolated proteins obtained by one or more (unicellular) microorganism(s), isolated proteins derived by one or more (unicellular) microorganism(s), purified proteins obtained by one or more (unicellular) microorganism(s), and purified proteins derived by one or more (unicellular) microorganism(s). While an (unicellular) microorganism may relate to a bacterium, a fungus like yeast and/or an algae, said (unicellular) microorganism is yeast according to the present invention. SCP products from yeast offer the advantage of providing comparatively high protein contents, while at the same time said products can be produced on industrial scale at comparatively low cost, independent from seasonal effects and with comparatively low harvesting efforts. Thus, yeast SCP products are highly advantageous. Another advantage is that yeast SCP have lower amounts of R-DNA than bacteria, and it is easier to separate from fermentation broth.

In the context of the present invention, the term “yeast” refers to a eukaryotic, unicellular microorganism classified as a member of the fungus kingdom that mostly reproduce asexually by mitosis with asymmetric division processes also being known as budding. Further herein, said term preferably relates to yeast cells, which can be grown under artificial and/or lab conditions, e.g. as in vitro culture conditions, and in particular under standard laboratory conditions. Said term preferably also embraces yeast cells of a single type that have been grown in the laboratory for several generations and thus, said term preferably embraces also potential mutants of a yeast cell and/or strain. Herein, yeast is preferably Saccharomycetales yeast.

A “yeast cell” is a cell of a yeast, preferably a cell of a yeast as described herein. Parts of a yeast cell might refer to substances derived from a yeast cell. For example, when disrupted yeast cells are used, there might be yeast protein as well as yeast cell wall material.

In the context of the present invention, the term “Saccharomycetales” refers to the order Saccharomycetales within the phylum Ascomycota. Members of Saccharomycetales are also known and sometimes referred to as budding yeasts.

Preferably, the yeast SCP product comprises Saccharomycetales yeast cells that are not Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells, and/or wherein the yeast SCP product does not comprise Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. Preferably, the SCP product comprises ethanol (or glucose) fed Saccharomycetales yeast cells.

In an embodiment, the present Saccharomycetales yeast cells are yeast cells from the genus Cyberlindnera, Kluyveromyces, Wickerhamomyces, Pichia or Yarrowia, preferably from the genus Cyberlindnera or Kluyveromyces or Wickerhamomyces.

In an embodiment, the present Saccharomycetales yeast cells are from Cyberlindnera jadinii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Pichia anomala or Yarrowia lipolytica, preferably from Cyberlindnera jadinii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Wickerhamomyces anomalus. In an embodiment, the present Saccharomycetales yeast cells are or are derived from Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 26387, Cyberlindnera jadinii FERM-BP1656, Wickerhamomyces anomalus IFO 569, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 1980, Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 9950, Kluyveromyces lactis CBS 2896, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 2576 or Yarrowia lipolytica CBS 7504, preferably from Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 26387, Cyberlindnera jadinii FERM-BP1656, Wickerhamomyces anomalus IFO 569, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 1980, Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 9950 or Kluyveromyces lactis CBS 2896.

In the context of the present invention, the term “derived from” preferably refers to yeast cells, which were originally obtained from a given yeast strain and thus originate from said given yeast strain. Such derived cells may differ from said given yeast strain due to naturally occurring and/or artificially introduced alterations like genetic mutations, but preferably have similar characteristics as cells from the yeast strain they originated from. Such similar characteristics are preferably the capability to produce with ethanol as carbon source 34% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of yeast cells, preferably 41 % (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of yeast cells, more preferably 42.5% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of yeast cells. A skilled person can readily test such a capability by culturing yeast cells with ethanol as carbon source, whereby a range of ethanol concentrations as carbon source are tested. Accordingly, cells that are derived from a given strain may have, preferably on genome level, a sequence identity of 80% or more, preferably of 85% or more, more preferably of 90% or more, even more preferably of 95% or more to the respective strain that can be seen as reference. Thus, a derived cell may have a sequence identity of at least, e.g., 90%, 91 %, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% to the respective reference, preferably on genome level.

Preferably, the Saccharomycetales yeast cells are capable of producing with ethanol (or glucose) as carbon source 34% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of said Saccharomycetales yeast cells, preferably 41 % (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of said Saccharomycetales yeast cells, more preferably 42.5% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of said Saccharomycetales yeast cells.

Preferably, the yeast SCP product comprises all essential amino acids. Preferably, the Saccharomycetales yeast cells are not genetically engineered. In an embodiment, the present yeast SCP product comprises 34% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, preferably 41 % (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, more preferably 42.5% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells. More preferably, the present yeast SCP product comprises from 50 to 75% (w/w) protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, such as from 55 to 65% (w/w) protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, such as from 56 to 60% (w/w) protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells.

Preferably, the yeast SCP product comprises dried Saccharomycetales yeast cells, preferably wherein said dried Saccharomycetales yeast cells are intact or disrupted or a mixture of intact and disrupted cells.

In the context of the present invention, the term “”w/w” is intended to be understood as "weight by weight" and thus refers to the proportion of a particular substance within a mixture, as measured by weight or mass.

Thraustochytrids include members of the genus Schizochytrium and Thraustochytrium and have been recognized as an alternative source of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA. See U.S. Patent No. 5,130,242.

In the context of the present invention, “high concentrations of PUFAs” in a nonmarine oil, refers to levels of 30 wt% and higher.

In a preferred embodiment the microorganism is a mutant strain of the species Schizochytrium. Schizochytrium strains are natural sources of PUFAs such as DHA and can be optimized by mutagenesis to be used as microbial source according to the present invention.

Aquaculture typically requires a prepared aquaculture feed composition to meet dietary requirements of the cultured animals. Dietary requirements of different aquaculture species vary, as do the dietary requirements of a single species during different stages of growth. Thus, tremendous research is invested towards optimizing each aquaculture feed composition for each stage of growth of a cultured organism.

Aquaculture feed compositions are composed of micro and macro components. In general, all components, which are used at levels of more than 1 %, are considered as macro components. Feed ingredients used at levels of less than 1 % are micro components. They are premixed to achieve a homogeneous distribution of the micro components in the complete feed. Both macro and micro ingredients are subdivided into components with nutritional functions and technical functions.

Components with technical functions improve the physical quality of the aquaculture feed composition or its appearance.

Macro components with nutritional functions provide aquatic animals with protein and energy required for growth and performance. With respect to fish, the aquaculture feed composition should ideally provide the fish with: 1 ) fats, which serve as a source of fatty acids for energy (especially for heart and skeletal muscles); and, 2) amino acids, which serve as building blocks of proteins. Fats also assist in vitamin absorption; for example, vitamins A, K, D, E and K are fat-soluble or can only be digested, absorbed, and transported in conjunction with fats. Carbohydrates, typically of plant origin (e.g., wheat, sunflower meal, com gluten, soybean meal), are also often included in the feed compositions, although carbohydrates are not a superior energy source for fish over protein or fat.

Fats are typically provided via incorporation of fish meals (which contain a minor amount of fish oil) and fish oils into the aquaculture feed compositions. Extracted oils that may be used in aquaculture feed compositions include fish oils (e.g., from the oily fish menhaden, anchovy, herring, capelin and cod liver), and vegetable oil (e.g., from soybeans, rapeseeds, sunflower seeds and flax seeds). Typically, fish oil is the preferred oil, because it contains the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ["PUFAs"], EPA and DHA; in contrast, vegetable oils do not provide a source of EPA and/or DHA. These PUFAs are needed for growth and health of most aquaculture products. A typical aquaculture feed composition will comprise from about 15-30% of oil, measured as a weight percent of the aquaculture feed composition. The protein supplied in aquaculture feed compositions can be of plant or animal origin. For example, protein of animal origin can be from marine animals (e.g., fish meal, fish oil, fish protein, krill meal, mussel meal, shrimp peel, squid meal, squid oil, etc.) or land animals (e.g., blood meal, egg powder, liver meal, meat meal, meat and bone meal, silkworm, pupae meal, whey powder, etc.). Protein of plant origin can include soybean meal, com gluten meal, wheat gluten, cottonseed meal, canola meal, sunflower meal, rice and the like.

Micro components include feed additives such as vitamins, trace minerals, feed antibiotics and other biologicals. Minerals used at levels of less than 100 mg/kg (100 ppm) are considered as micro minerals or trace minerals.

Preferably, the present aquaculture feed composition comprises 1 to 30% (w/w) of a yeast SCP composition, preferably 5 to 20% (w/w) and less than 10% preferably less than 5% (w/w) of fishmeal.

Preferably, the amount of an optionally added microbial oil according to the present invention is within the range from 2 to 20% (w/w) of the final feed.

The present invention is further illustrated using the examples below.

Example 1

Typical values of an aquaculture fish diet for carnivorous fish are summarized in Table 1 below.

The Control diet shows a standard diet with a fish meal inclusion of 10%, wherein column SCP-5 shows a partial replacement of fish meal and columns SCP1 -10 and SCP1 -20 a complete replacement of fish meal with SCP.

Table 1

FFDR Calculations based on ASC guidelines

In a fish trial it was demonstrated that FM10, FM5 and FMO have similar growth performance. In consequence, fish meal can be replaced with a SCP composition while maintaining growth and performance of the aqua species.

Example 2: Typical aquaculture feed

Aquaculture feed for carnivorous fish can be produced according to the formulation described in table 2 & 3. Table 2

Table 3 Aquaculture diet

Claims

1 . An aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish comprising a sustainable protein-source, wherein the fishmeal component is partially or completely replaced by a Single Cell Protein (SCP) composition, wherein the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of said feed composition is maintained below 0.5, while maintaining the growth and performance of the aqua species.

2. The aquaculture feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the FFDR of the final feed composition is less than 0.4.

3. The aquaculture feed composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the FFDR of the final feed composition is more preferably less than 0.3.

4. The aquaculture feed composition of any preceding claim, wherein the SCP composition is a yeast single cell protein product and wherein the yeast single cell protein product comprises Saccharomycetales yeast cells or parts thereof.

5. The aquaculture feed composition of any preceding claim wherein the yeast single cell protein product comprises 34% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, preferably 41 % (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells, more preferably 42.5% (w/w) or more protein per gram dry weight of Saccharomycetales yeast cells.

6. The aquaculture feed composition of claim 5 or 6, wherein the

Saccharomycetales yeast cells are yeast cells from the genus Cyberlindnera, Kluyveromyces, Wickerhamomyces, Pichia or Yarrowia, preferably from the genus Cyberlindnera or Kluyveromyces or Wickerhamomyces, preferably wherein the Saccharomycetales yeast cells are from Cyberlindnera jadinii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Pichia anomala or Yarrowia lipolytica, preferably from Cyberlindnera jadinii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, preferably wherein the Saccharomycetales yeast cells are or are derived from Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 26387, Cyberlindnera jadinii FERM-BP1656, Wickerhamomyces anomalus IFO 569, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 1980, Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 9950, Kluyveromyces lactis CBS 2896, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 2576 or Yarrowia lipolytica CBS 7504, preferably from Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 26387, Cyberlindnera jadinii FERM-BP1656, Wickerhamomyces anomalus IFO 569, Wickerhamomyces anomalus CBS 1980, Cyberlindnera jadinii ATCC 9950 or Kluyveromyces lactis CBS 2896.

7. The aquaculture feed composition of any preceding claim, wherein the fish oil component of the feed is partially or completely replaced by a non-marine oil with high concentrations of PUFAs, comprising at least 30% DHA, and optionally EPA.

8. The aquaculture feed composition of claim 7, wherein the non-marine oil comprising DHA, preferably DHA and EPA, is derived from a microbial source or a vegetable source

9. The aquaculture feed composition of claim 8, wherein the non-marine oil is an oil from algae, fungi, or yeast, preferably an algal oil, wherein the preferred algae are Thraustochytrids, microorganisms of the order Thraustochytriales, including members of the genus Schizochytrium and Thraustochytrium.

10. Use of a Single Cell Protein (SCP) composition in an aquaculture feed composition for carnivorous fish for partially or completely replacing the fishmeal component, wherein the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of said feed composition is maintained below 0.5, while maintaining the growth and performance of the aqua species.