biostudies-literatureMaina ANGovernment of the Republic of KenyaNovo Nordisk FoundationIKEA FoundationAustralian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchGovernment of NorwayFrench Ministry of Europe and Foreign AffairsKenya Climate Smart Agriculture ProjectRockefeller FoundationEuropean CommissionNorwegian Agency for Development CooperationPostcode Lottery, SwedenGlobal Affairs CanadaGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Developmente0335422https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12654937biostudies-literatureUnknown20(11)The current study assessed the implications of substituting fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on sustainable African catfish (Clarius gariepinus) production. Five isocaloric experimental diets were formulated and 168-days feeding trials were performed with 1400 improved strains of African catfish. Fish fed with 50% BSFLM expressed the lowest and highest feed conversion ratio, and daily weight gain and specific growth rate. Fillets from fish fed diet with 50 and 75% BSFLM inclusion expressed higher lauric (11.4-16.7%) and linoleic acids. Omega-6 fatty acid was 19-fold higher in fillets from fish fed diet with 75%BSFLM. There was 5-8% and 9-11% higher crude protein in fillet from fish fed diet with 50 and 75% BSFLM, respectively. Essential amino acids in the fillets, PloS oneEmerging insect-based aquafeed for sustainable African catfish production.PMC12654937GA02-4/1NESTLER project: 101060762 and INNOECOFOOD project: 101136739Grant No: SAFA-21/0004RefIPro: NNF22SA0078466Waste for Cash Eco Project - WACEP-PJ1651BIO Kenya project- FEF N°2024-53ProteinAfrica – Grant No: LS/2020/154G-2204-02144WAVE-IN - Grant No: 2021 FOD 030BRAINS project: P011585Munguti JMBourou SZachariadi ABarwani DKYossa RTanga CMOchieng BOChia SYYusuf AASevgan SMboya JBZachariadis VLiti DMOsuga IMMeenakshisundaram MBeesigamukama DMaina ANMunga LKfalseEmerging insect-based aquafeed for sustainable African catfish production.The current study assessed the implications of substituting fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on sustainable African catfish (Clarius gariepinus) production. Five isocaloric experimental diets were formulated and 168-days feeding trials were performed with 1400 improved strains of African catfish. Fish fed with 50% BSFLM expressed the lowest and highest feed conversion ratio, and daily weight gain and specific growth rate. Fillets from fish fed diet with 50 and 75% BSFLM inclusion expressed higher lauric (11.4-16.7%) and linoleic acids. Omega-6 fatty acid was 19-fold higher in fillets from fish fed diet with 75%BSFLM. There was 5-8% and 9-11% higher crude protein in fillet from fish fed diet with 50 and 75% BSFLM, respectively. Essential amino acids in the fillets, 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-06-05T17:52:45.634Z2026-05-19T03:11:11.647ZS-EPMC126549374129669610.1371/journal.pone.0335422