A new review article, authored by researchers Kiranpreet Kaur from Aker QRILL Company and Silvia Torrecillas, with support from the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), explores the impact of krill-based ingredients on a range of non-salmonid aquaculture species, including seabream, seabass, tilapia, and olive flounder. This review evaluates how krill meal and krill oil can support fish health and growth even in low fishmeal and fish oil diets.
With growing demand for sustainable seafood and pressure mounting on wild fish stocks, the
The aquaculture industry is increasingly seeking efficient and effective feed ingredients that balance performance, cost, and sustainability.
“Krill meal offers a unique combination of highly digestible protein, phospholipid-bound omega-3s, and functional compounds like astaxanthin and chitin,” explained Silvia Torrecillas, co-author of the review. “This makes it particularly valuable in diets for marine fish that are sensitive to changes in the feed formulation.”
The review highlights strong evidence from multiple species showing that krill supplementation consistently improves feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). In some studies, juvenile fish fed krill meal grew up to 30% faster, with FCR improvements of up to 17% compared to control groups. This effect is largely attributed to krill’s palatability and nutrient bioavailability, even at low inclusion levels.
“Across many aquaculture species, we see improvements in not just growth but also in protein and lipid efficiency ratios, which is critical for feed optimization,” said Kiranpreet Kaur, director R&D Aquaculture at Aker QRILL Company and co-author of the review.
In addition to performance, krill meal supports gut integrity and liver health, especially under stress or when diets are low in fishmeal or fish oil. The review points to improved gut morphology, reduced hepatic fat accumulation, and stronger mucosal protection, all linked to krill’s phospholipids, omega-3s, and choline content. Several studies also show improved immune responses and stress resilience, including higher survival rates under crowding or pathogen exposure.
“Krill-based diets are shown to help fish better tolerate stressful environments and support a stronger immune system. This is a major benefit in commercial production settings,” added Kaur.
Fillet composition and nutritional value are naturally important factors for consumers. The review found that krill inclusion helps maintain EPA and DHA levels in fillets, ensuring the end product remains a rich source of omega-3s. In broodstock diets, krill also supports better egg quality, hatchability, and larval viability across species such as red sea bream, Nile tilapia, and tongue sole.
The review concludes that krill meal and krill oil can play a key role in enabling more sustainable, resilient feed formulations for different fish species.
Reference:
Kiranpreet Kaur, Silvia Torrecillas. Impact of krill products on the growth, health, and fillet quality of farmed non-salmonid fish, Aquaculture, Volume 608, 2025, 742723, ISSN 0044-8486, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742723
