PRELIMINARY STUDY FOR UTILIZATION OF SOME INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS AS RAW MATERIAL FOR AQUACULTURE FEEDS

WOS: 000390641900053The aquaculture industry in Turkey has been grown up for twenty years and reached to two hundred and thirty five thousand tonnes per year (2014) production capacity. Commonly cultured species need to the mixed feeds which contain many raw materials inside. Proximately %80 of these raw materials is exported and this is also a problem for national economy. The main protein source in mixed feed is fish meal. Because of limited natural resource the usage of fish meal will be in danger in the future. As an alternative to fish meal, aquatic plants (especially freshwater species) can be used in fish feeds after some processes. However with their water purification capacity, they have an invasive character which has an eutrophication threat for environment and water resources. For minimize their harmful effects, some combat methods (mechanic, biological, etc) are indispensable. But after harvesting methods, the plant wastes may cause environmental problems also. In this study, some of invasive aquatic plants that commonly found in the inland waters of Turkey; Eichornia crassipes, Cyperus alternifolius, Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes, Typha latifolia, Nasturtium officinale have been examined to be utilized as a raw material in fish feed possibilities for imparting to the economy after the harvest in order to prevent environmental damage they cause. With biochemical analysis of these plants, fatty acid ratios and structures are investigated as raw materials possibilities for fish feeding. In addition, thus plants and their wastes were been integrated into the economy and intended for the protection of environmental sustainability. In this study, the availability of feed ingredients of aquatic plant commonly found around Turkey were investigated. Also this study is first research on fish feed raw materials from inland plants