Page 59 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 50
P. 59
tonnes to 16 million tonnes) and that trend is continuing. ■ It is eagerly eaten by Koi and other fish. Many
Wild caught fish are still used in fish meal production, freshwater fish naturally eat insects either from the
but they are increasingly from sustainably harvested water surface or by consuming their aquatic larvae.
populations of anchovies, capelin and herring. The Even species or individuals that are normally
official figures vary, but it is thought that 25 to 33% of reluctant to consume prepared foods will eat insect
fish meal is now produced from fish by-products – that KOI AND OTHER meal based diets, presumably being tempted by the
is the heads, tails, bones, etc, that are left after the fish FISH HAVE taste or smell.
have been processed for human consumption.
BEEN EATING ■ Koi and other fish have been eating insects for
Frighteningly we still use an estimated 10% of the millions of years and, not surprisingly have evolved
world’s fish catches to feed to other fish. INSECTS FOR to digest and process them very effectively.
Obviously as the production and availability of fish meal MILLIONS OF Independent trials have demonstrated excellent food
conversion ratios and low waste production from
reduces, the cost of this ingredient increases. Not YEARS foods based on insect meal.
surprisingly significant research is being focused on
identifying less costly and more sustainable alternatives. ■ It provides an environmentally friendly and
INSECT MEAL, A The use of insect meal appears to offer one of the better sustainable source of high quality protein.
FANTASTIC NEW alternatives. Sustainability
INGREDIENT Insects as food The ‘green’ side of insect production is a major benefit.
THAT IS BEING The use of protein sourced from insects goes far Not only does the use of insect meal reduce the need to
beyond the need to protect fish stocks. It is seen as a use fish meal, with the benefits that this provides to our
CULTURED AT long-term solution to providing high quality protein for marine environment – it also has some major benefits
SITES ACROSS human food. In many parts of the world insects are over other protein production methods. Take a look at
already eaten in huge numbers. More than 2 billion the benefits of culturing and using black soldier flies:
THE WORLD people are estimated to eat caterpillars, beetles and
■ Cultured on organic material such as brewery waste
larvae as part of their everyday diet. In South Africa
over 9.5 billion mopane caterpillars are harvested every THE ‘GREEN’ and waste fruit and vegetables. These are materials
year for human consumption. In Uganda a kilo of that are usually composted and dug into the ground.
grasshoppers is more valuable than a kilo of beef. It is SIDE OF INSECT ■ The waste from culturing black soldier fly larvae is
only in Europe and North America that we find the idea PRODUCTION an excellent fertiliser that is used to enhance soil
of eating insects distasteful. Leading authorities believe conditions.
this is about to change and that we will all be eating IS A MAJOR
insects within 20 years. ■ They grow rapidly from an egg to the pre-pupating
BENEFIT larvae in only 13 days.
What are the benefits of feeding insects to our fish?
■ Efficient conversion of food into protein, particularly
Insect meal is a fantastic new ingredient that is being when compared to other protein production:
cultured at sites across the world. Many of these are still
1.5 kg of food needed to produce 1 kg of insects.
prototype factories, which are finding novel methods to
2.3 kg of food needed to produce 1 kg chicken.
culture different insect species in commercial quantities.
8.8 kg of food needed to produce 1 kg beef.
The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been the
■ Less than 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions
subject of considerable research and is being used as
when compared with conventional livestock rearing.
an ingredient in both aquaculture and ornamental fish
(and Koi) foods. There are many benefits of the insect ■ Consistent quality and traceable.
meal for fish keepers including:
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