An Overview of the Importance of Macroalgae in the Aquaculture Industry

The increase in the price of fish meal, as well as the decrease in its availability, has led to a rapidly expanding search for suitable herbal alternatives over the years. Macroalgae are a good alternative because of their easy growth and reasonable price. Macroalgae are used as dietary supplements to enhance the health, growth, and feeding performance of many species of marine and freshwater fish, as well as ornamental fish. Most studies have reported acceptable results in using macroalgae as a relative alternative to fish meal. Meanwhile, the amount of crude protein and polysaccharides in red macrophages is higher than in other species. The results show that although the use of algae flour by up to 10% in the culture of some species, such as red seabream (Pagrus major), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labraxa), and Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) has increased growth and feeding performance, using more from algae flour in the diet of some species, the difference was not observed between treatments and even had negative effects. Therefore, it seems that more research is needed in this field.