Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal in aquafeed for a sustainable aquaculture industry: a review

Abstract

The increasing interest in sustainable and cheaper protein resources in aquaculture production has generated a growing interest in alternative feed ingredients. Aquaculture is one of the world’s most rapidly expanding and largest food production industries. Notably, the inclusion of fishmeal in aqua feed has been gradually replaced with alternative sources of protein inputs due to the high cost of production, limited availability of raw materials, and environmental pressures. The black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ; BSFL) meal is attracting greater attention as a feed ingredient for aqua feeds, as it contains high protein content similar to fishmeal (FM). H. illucens larvae rearing can also be realized with different biodegradable substrates, which are converted into high-value biomass. BSFL-based diets have been evaluated in several finfish and crustacean species have assessed final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed intake (FI), feed efficiency (FE), survival rate (SR), and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), using fishmeal-based diets as the reference. Although previous reviews have examined insect meals and black soldier fly larvae, integrated evidence remains fragmented regarding the practical use, sustainable production, benefits, and limitations of BSFL meal in aquafeeds. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the practical use of BSFL meal as a protein source in aquaculture, with particular emphasis on sustainable production practices, nutritional benefits, and the challenges associated with its wider application in the aquafeed industry as well as its benefits.