The use of probiotics as an alternative to a sustainable aquaculture
Maurilio Lara-Flores
In last decade, the total world fishery production decreased slightly and the human consumption for aquatic product increased. The reduction in capture fisheries was partly compensated for the fast growth of aquaculture industry. The need for enhanced disease resistance, feed efficiency, and growth performance of cultured organisms is substantial for various sectors of this industry. If growth performance and feed efficiency are increased in commercial aquaculture, the costs productions are likely reduced. Also if more aquatic organisms are able to resist diseases and survive subsequent cost of medication and overall production costs would be reduced. Hormones, antibiotics, ionophores and some salts compounds have been used at some extent to prevent disease and as growth promoters; however, their inadequate application can produce adverse disorders, such as hormone imbalance, poisoning and predisposition to disease development. In the search of new options, several studies have been carried out to test new compounds, from which the aquaculture industry has developed the concept of “functional additives”. Among these additives, the additions of microorganisms to the diets, named probiotics, has shown to improve the energy expenditure derived from other sources such as carbohydrates and increase the incorporations of protein for growth; increase the immunity and disease resistance of the host organism. The use of probiotics in aquaculture activity is in the beginnings, since the gastrointestinal microbiota of aquatic organisms has been poorly characterized; and their effects not be study extensive.