Composition of sandhopper, Talitrus saltator and potential as a novel aquaculture feed

Abstract

Accelerated aquaculture production has driven demand for novel ingredients in aquaculture feeds. Potential alternatives include single cell organisms, transgenic crops and terrestrial arthropods for example the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens. Underutilised aquatic taxa, such as amphipods, possess a wide range of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids valued by the aquaculture feed industry. However, information regarding composition of semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods remains at an exploratory stage. For instance, Talitrus saltator is a common European sandhopper currently lacking published, comprehensive body composition and lipid analysis data. In this study, monthly sampling of T. saltator (July–September) showed a distinct increase in body size, energy value, protein content and storage lipids (triacylglycerols) likely due to increased foraging potential during the warmer and more productive summer period. Toward the end of the summer, sandhopper proximate composition was comparable to other arthropod meals (Krill, Euphausia superba, amphipod Gammarus sp., and H. illucens). Whilst T. saltator fatty acid composition was biased toward monounsaturated fatty acids (ranging from 44.1–57%), samples also contained a range of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including valuable omega 3 long chain fatty acids. However, there remains scant information on T. saltator harvesting or culture potential, likely essential to produce biomass of sufficient quantity or composition for commercial use.