Funded by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) under the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) program, a team of researchers from the Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Science, UP Visayas (UPV-CFOS) has developed a seaweed-based dietary supplement that improves the profitability and sustainability of aquatic animals’ production. The new supplement belongs to eubiotics dietary supplements, a category of compounds that are known as enhancers of gut health, physiological health, and performance.

The study showed that the new seaweed-based eubiotic feed supplement significantly improved the feed conversion efficiency (FCE), growth performance, and gut health in farmed tilapia, white shrimp, and milkfish. The supplemented feed significantly improved the FCE by 30-50% while an increase from 40-60% was noted in the growth performance of the farmed aquatic species. Furthermore, the supplement also improved stress responses and increased the presence of beneficial lactic acid bacteria in the analyzed organisms.

“Faster growth and better feed conversion translate to faster harvest time and better profit gain since feeds are efficiently converted into body tissues,” said Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar, CFOS-IA director. “Application of this supplement can increase the economic gains of Filipinos venturing into aquaculture.”