Growing shrimp farming pressures demand smarter solutions
Shrimp farming has no shortage of challenges. Globally, the industry contends with rising disease pressure from emerging pathogens, increased resistance to treatment, and stress caused by poor water quality and overcrowding. As production intensifies to meet growing demand, the traditional reliance on antibiotics and chemical treatments is proving less effective, and often less acceptable due to regulatory and consumer pressure.
At Aker QRILL Company, we believe that smart and sustainable nutrition for thriving shrimp is about more than simply meeting the basic requirements for growth. The right nutrition can actively support shrimp health, improve farm outcomes, and reduce the need for reactive treatments.
This is where functional feed ingredients come into play.
From nutrition to function
To thrive in today’s farming environments, shrimp require feeds that support their resilience, immunity, and steady growth despite mounting challenges. Nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, astaxanthin, and choline, play multiple roles. They fuel metabolism while also support the immune system, gut health, and overall resilience.
This reflects a shift from traditional feed design toward diets that not only support growth and ensure robustness, but also promote resilience, shrimp health, and sustainability. This is especially critical in farming systems where stress and exposure to pathogens, environmental stressors and other challenges are part of daily life.
Why marine ingredients matter
While plant-based feed alternatives are popular, marine ingredients still play a vital role – especially when it comes to functional feeds. Their unique biochemical profiles improve feed intake, enhance gut health, and boost immune response.
Krill meal, as one such marine ingredient, has been proven, through rigorous scientific study, to increase survival rates during salinity and temperature changes, strengthen the hepatopancreas, and improve antioxidant defenses in shrimp. Its effectiveness at low inclusion levels means it can deliver these functional benefits while minimizing environmental impact, making it a smarter and more sustainable functional ingredient.
A smart approach to more sustainable shrimp feed
The push to reduce fishmeal and fish oil in shrimp feeds has led to some unintended consequences, namely, feeds that lack the functional components like phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids, astaxanthin, and marine-derived peptides that are essential for shrimp health, robustness, and survival. The solution isn’t to eliminate marine ingredients entirely, but rather to use them more wisely.
That means choosing ingredients with clear, documented effects – ingredients that are also sourced responsibly. Antarctic krill is one of the best examples of this balance. Harvested from one of the world’s most well-managed, MSC-certified fisheries, krill represents a sustainable option that delivers measurable benefits – even when included in low doses.
Functional feeds have become an ingredient for success
As farming intensity increases, the future of shrimp health depends on proactive feed strategies. Functional feeds can help bridge the gap – delivering the performance and the sustainability farmers need. This will reduce the dependence on antibiotics, improve shrimp welfare, and align with market expectations for more responsible production.
At Aker QRILL Company, we’re committed to developing smart aquaculture solutions that support both the animals and the environments they live in. Because when shrimp are healthier, farming is more resilient, and aquaculture continues its progress towards a more sustainable future.
