J Appl Phycol (2009) 21:193197

DOI 10.1007/s10811-008-9350-4

Seaweed meal as a protein source for the white shrimp

Litopenaeus vannamei
Robson Liberal da Silva & Jos Milton Barbosa

Received: 30 July 2007 / Revised and accepted: 8 May 2008 / Published online: 2 August 2008
# Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Abstract The rhodophytes Hypnea cervicornis and C

ryptonemia crenulata are abundant along the Brazilian c
oastline and are rich in nutrients. They may therefore be use
d as
a source of protein in shrimp diets. The aim of the prese
nt
study was to test this hypothesis. The experim
ent was
conducted in a laboratory, where 10-day-old postlarvae
aged underwent 7 days of acclimation in a 1,000
L tank.
They were then kept in plastic aquariums, each contai
ning
10 L, and 20 larvae were fed daily (10% of biomass) in
four
equal portions with one of four diets (five repetitio
ns of
each) for a period of 45 days. All diets contained
30%
crude protein (isoprotein) and 300 kcal 100 g1 (isocal
oric),
with different percentages of seaweed powder: Diet
A
39%; Diet B 26%, Diet C 13%, and Diet D withou
t
seaweed (control diet). Algae were collected, rinse
d, dried
and ground up for the feed formulations. Weight of
the
animals was measured at the beginning of the exper
iment
and at 15-day intervals to assess their growth. The phy
sicochemical variables of the water were measured ev
ery 2
days. Final biomass, biomass gain and specific growth r
ate

(SGR) exhibited no significant differences betwe

en treatments (P>0.05). Survival rate was equal under
the four
experimental conditions, being consistent within four d
ecimal
R. L. da Silva
Departamento de Bioqumica,
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco,
Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s/n,
Recife PE (CEP 50.670-420), Brazil
e-mail: robsonliberal@yahoo.com.br
J. M. Barbosa (*)
Departamento de Pesca e Aqicultura,
Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco,
Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n.,
Recife PE (CEP: 52.171.900), Brazil
e-mail: jmiltonb@gmail.com

places 95.2% to 97.00% (P>0.05). Diets A and B, with

a greater content of algae, exhibited better feed conversion
(1.79:1 and 1.82:1) than Diets C and D (2.04:1 and
2.08:1) (P<0.05). The physical-chemical variables of the
water showed no significant variation and remained within
the standards necessary for the wellbeing of the animals. If
sufficient biomass of beached algae can be practically and
economically collected, it may be used as a component in
the making of shrimp feed.
Keywords Feed conversion . Weight gain . Diet . Algae .
Rhodophyta

Introduction
There have been many studies on the use of seaweed in

animal diets. For example, Cruz-Surez et al. (2000) used

Macrocystis pyirifera flour, and He and Lawrence (1993)
used Laminaria digitata flour as a feed ingredient for the
shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Tahil and Juinio-Menez
(1999) used the seaweeds Laurencia, Hypnea, Amphiroa
and Coelothrix as food for Haliotis asinina (Gastropoda).
Seaweeds are rich in proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates,
fiber, lipids and minerals. When fresh, they are 7585%
water and 1525% organic components and minerals. Dry
matter is 6585% organic substances and 3035% ash
(Halperin 1971; FAO 2005). Some species of algae may
contain greater contents of protein, carbohydrates and fat
than the ingredients traditionally used in shrimp diets.
According to Diaz-Peferrer and Lopz (1961), marine algae
possess all the essential minerals for animals.
The utilization of algae in the feeding of shimps should
be possible and the aim of this study was to test whether
seaweeds can be used as a source of protein in shrimp diets.

Percentage composition according to supplier: soy flour CP 44.8

4;
194
Table 1 Proportion of ingredients of the experimental diets used t
o
feed the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Ingredients (%)

Seaweed flour
Soy floura
Fish floura
Wheat floura
Meat and bone floura
Corn floura
Cassava floura
Soy oil
Vitamin and mineral blendb
Iodated salt

Diet
A

39.0
0.0
28.0
7.5
8.0
8.0
7.0
1.0
1.0
0.5

26.0
13.0
22.0
13.5
8.0
8.0
7.0
1.0
1.0
0.5

13.0
26.0
16.0
19.5
8.0
8.0
7.0
1.0
1.0
0.5

0.0
39.0
10.0
25.5
8.0
8.0
7.0
1.0
1.0
0.5

DM 88.22; EE 1.74; F 5.57; A 5.73; DE 3,005 kcal kg1 ; fish flour

CP 54.06; DM 92.89, EE 15.30, F 1.51, A 22.92, DE 33,335 kcal

kg1 ; wheat flour CP 16.76, DM 87.74, EE 3.13, F 8.12, A 4.57,
DE 2,930 kcal kg1 ; meat and bone flour CP 40.60, DM 91.00,
EE
16.00, F 1.51, A 36.60, DE 2,929 kcal kg1 ; corn flour CP 8.68
,
DM 87.45, EE 3.84, F 2.17, A 1.18, DE 3,110 kcal kg1 ; c
assava
flour CP 5.84, DM 5.84, EE 0.55, F 13.83, A 1.55, DE 2,771 kcal
kg1 (CP crude protein; DM dry matter; EE ether extract, F fibe
r, A
Ash, DE digestive energy)
b Guaranteed levels per kilogram of product: vitamin A 900,0
00 IU
kg1 , biotin 6.0 mg, vitamin B1 150 mg, vitamin B2 600 mg, vita
min
B6 300 mg, vitamin B12 1,200 mg, E 2,000 IU kg1 , niacin 2,500
mg,
folic acid 80 mg, pantothenic acid 1,200 mg, selenium 25 mg

Materials and methods

Experimental design
A total of 1,200 post-larvae (10 days after final
metamor-

J Appl Phycol (2009) 21:193197

wastes. Feeding (10% of total biomass, adjusted weekly)

was carried out in four portions at a proportion of 40% in the
morning and 60% in the afternoon. The laboratory was illuminated with fluorescent light, maintaining a 14:10 h light:
dark photoperiod.
During the experiments, oxygen, temperature, salinity
and pH were measured every 2 days.
Formulation of diets

treatments contained different proportions of seaweed flour

and soy flour (Table 1).
The selection of the two species for the processing of
seaweed meal was based on a preliminary study undertaken
over a 12-month period. The two dominant seaweed species
from the metropolitan area of the beach of the city of
Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil were collected at three separate
times. The material collected was weighed (wet weight)
and, after taxonomical identification, separated by species.
The total biomass of the two dominant species was dried at
55C for 36 h and weighed. The seaweed meal, made up of
equal proportions of each species, was ground to a fine
powder in a hammer mill (Fig. 1).
In formulating the isoprotein and isocaloric diets, with
30% crude protein and around 300 kcal 100 g1, the pro-

The diets were formulated as follows: algae flour (made up

of the rhodophyte algae Cryptonemia crenulata and
Hypnea cervicornis in equal proportion), soybean meal,
corn flour, fish flour, fish meal, meat and bone meal, wheat
flour, mineral and vitamin blend, and iodized salt. The four
phosis) were used. Samples were acquired from a comm Fig. 1 Seaweed meal
erprocessing
cial shrimp farm and transported in plastic bag
s with
oxygen to the Laboratory of Aquatic Ecosystems, F
ishery
and Aquaculture Department of the Universidade Fe
deral
Rural de Pernambuco. In the laboratory, the animals
were
kept in a 1,000 L tank for 7 days with constant aeration
and
fed ad libitum with a commercial feed for acclimati
on to
local conditions.
The post-larvae were then starved for 24 h prior
to the
beginning of the experimental phase. For the f
eeding
experiments, the post-larvae were kept in 20 aquar
iums
(each with 10 L water and 20 post-larvae) for 45
days:
April 11 May 16 2005. The design was entirely ra
ndomized, with the distribution of post-larvae by lot.
Water was treated with sand and chlorine filters and fi
ltered
once again with 5 m ceramic and activated carbon
filters.
After filtration, the water remained in a recirculation sys
tem
with a biological filter and aeration using two 3 L min1
air
pumps in order to maintain stable physical-chemical
conditions. The aquariums were siphoned daily to remove f
aecal
matter, uneaten feed, molted exoskeletons and other or
ganic

Weight of the biomass

Selection of the
biomass

Identification of the
species

Drying in greenhouse

Milling seaweed

J Appl Phycol (2009) 21:193197

195

Table 2 Bromatological analysis of algae and caloric value. CP Crude protein, EE ether extract, M moisture; C carbohydrate, Min minerals
Algae

CP

EE

Min

kcal 100 g1

Wet algae floura

2.82

0.21

84.14

8.72

6.12

40.05

Dry algae floura

Cryptonemia crenulataa
Hypnea cervicornisa
Blend of 50% C. crenulata + 50% H. Cervicornisb
1
2

16.84
21.54
19.58
22.50

1.41
1.08
1.02

31.75
18.73
24.26

38.05
44.98
41.49

12.15
13.67
13.65

231.45
275.80
253.46

Analyses carried out at the Experimental Feed Laboratory of the UFPE

Analysis carried out at the Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Zootechnic Department of the UFRPE

B=26% seaweed +13% soy; C=13% seaweed +26% soy;

portions of components were calculated following proc and D=0% seaweed +39% soy (Table 4). Growth was
calculated for the 45 days of cultivation (Table 4).
e2
dures described by Correia (2004), EMBRAPA (1989 Final biomass values ranged from 120.89 to 134.82 g m ;
2

gains in biomass ranged from 106.49 to 124.36 g m , and

) and
the National Research Council (1989), and employed in t SGR ranged from 4.68 to 5.68%. A statistical comparison
between treatments revealed no significant differences (P>
he
seaweed analyses (Tables 2, 3). The feed ingredient 0.05). Therefore, the replacement of up to 100% of soy with
seaweed resulted in no interference with regard to growth
s were
ground to a powder, homogenized with 40% w (Table 4).
Survival rate ranged from 95.20% (Feed D) to 97.00%
ater at
(Feeds
B and C). Comparatively, there were no statistical
60C, placed in a meat mincer pellet former
differences
(P>0.05) and there was an average of 96.35%
(2 mm
diameter) and then dried in an oven at 80C for in the stock density of two larvae per liter over the 45-day
period (Table 4). Statistical analyses demonstrated that the
4 h. The
feed was conditioned in plastic containers and stor treatments had no influence on shrimp survival rate.
Feed conversion ranged from 1.79 to 2.08, with differed at
ences
among the four treatments (P0.05), but treatment A
room temperature.
and
B
were similar to one another, as were treatments C and
Feed conversion was determined by the amount of
D
(Table
4).
feed
The
averages
of the physical-chemical variables of
ingested divided by the weight gain of the shrimps. Surv
temperature:
27.44C;
salinity: 19.62; oxygen: 4.10 mg L1,
ival
rate was determined from the number of animals alive at
the
end of the experiment. Specific growth rate was calc
ulated
using the formula: SGR=100 (lnPfln Pi)/ t, where Pf is
the
final weight, Pi is the initial weight, and t is time.
The results regarding gains in biomass, specific grow
th,
survival and feed conversion were assessed by ana
lysis
of variance (ANOVA) complemented with the Tukey
test
(=0.05).

Results
and pH: 7.43.
The shrimps exhibited satisfactory growth under all conditions tested. Growth was assessed through the data on final
biomass, gains in biomass and specific growth rate (SG Discussion
R),
under the four tested conditions: A=39% seaweed +0% soy;
Pedreschi-Neto (1999) obtained averages between 0.11 and
0.20 g for final biomass, and 1.68 to 3.17% in specific
growth rate using post-larvae for a period of 60 days, i.e.,
Table 3 Calculated composition of some nutrients and digest
well below the values obtained in the present study. Other
experimental results from the same author showed a
ive
survival rate ranging between 51.7% and 60.0%, with an
energy in the experimental diets
average of 55.35%, which were also well below the values
Nutrient
Diet
obtained in the present study. On the other hand, data on
A
Digestive energy

312.50
0

B
315.30

D
308.10

301.0 feed conversion from this same experiment using popcorn

(kcal 100 g1)

Crude protein (%)a
Ether extract (%)a
Raw fiber (%)a
Ash (%)a
a

29.83
7.36
9.42
11.12

29.95
6.78
8.17
10.35

30.57
6.21
6.92
9.59

residuals (Zea mays L.) in Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae feeds were between 1.23 and 1.81, which wer
e
higher than those of the present study.
Cornejo et al. (1999) tested the effect of the seaweed
Caulerpa sertularioides on the growth, survival and biomass of the brown shrimp Penaeus californiensis for a 10-

31.01
5.64
5.66
8.82

Percentage of nutrient in diet

196

J Appl Phycol (2009) 21:193197

Table 4 Growth data on shrimp fed with different feeds (mean standard deviation, n=100 per treatment group). Different letters on the same
line indicate statistical differences (P0.05). SGR Specific growth rate
Data

Treatment
A

Initial biomass (g L1)

10.100.08 b

10.420.15 ab

11.780.15 ab

14.772.12 a

Final biomass (g L1)

SGR (%/day)
Gain in biomass (g L1)
Survival (%)
Feed conversion ratioc
Cultivation periods (days)
PL density /aquarium

128.663.19 a
5.652.85 a
118.563.11 a
96.204.18 a
1.790.0 b
45
20

134.822.03 a
5.681.81 a
124.361.97 a
97.002.73 a
1.820.03 b
45
20

120.892.08 a
5.171.86 a
109.122.72 a
97.002.73 a
2.040.17 a
45
20

121.272.97 a
4.682.65 a
106.493.15 a
95.206.73 a
2.080.22 a
45
20

Total feed supplied in dry weight /biomass gain in wet weight

week period in 150 L tanks with three repetitions

of three
treatments: Treatment 1with no seaweed, but commer
cial
feed with 35% crude protein; Treatment 2
indirect
presence of seaweed with commercial feed; and Treatme
nt
3direct presence of seaweed with commercial
feed. The
results for growth, survival and production wer
e the
following: Treatment 1, 0.460.4 g, 68.71.2% an
d 5.6
1,1 g; Treatment 2, 0.730.4 g, 751.0% and 7.8
1.2 g;
and Treatment 3, 3.980.4 g, 100% and 36.2
44.3 g,
respectively. The author concludes that the presence of th
e
algae C. sertularioides has a direct effect on the
growth,
survival and biomass of the brown shrimp P. californien
sis
under laboratory conditions.
In analyzing the digestibility of nine commercial s
hrimp
feeds in Mexico, Cruz-Surez et al. (2000) obtained sur
vival
rates of 100% in 14 days for three treatments. At
28 days,
survival ranged from 94% to 98%. Feed conversion
using
Phaeophycea algae flour was 2.630.42; 2.800
.27 and
3.120.54, using 0, 4% and 8%, respectively. These va
lues

were lower than those of the present experiment for

survival.
Two of the nine diets tested contained kelp
flour or
phycocolloids in the formula. However, other para
meters
should be taken into consideration; for example: the c
ost of
transport of raw materials and the storage struct
ure, taking
into account the feed composition.
The physical-chemical variables remained w
ithin the
range recommended for L. vannamei by Roch
a et al.
(1998), Clifford (1992), Barbieri et al. (2001), lvar
ez et al.
(2004) and McGraw and Scarpa (2004), such t
hat these
variables did not interfere with the treatments.
In conclusion, this study found that the marine
algae
H. cervicornis and C. crenulata are viable for u
se in the
feeding of L. vannamei, with effect on shrimp growth
rates.
The results suggest that there is an increa
se in feed
conversion when the levels of algae are increas
ed. Also,
this increase in the proportion of algae in the feed wa
s associated with increased fishmeal levels. However, i
t is necessary to test the algae dissociated from the levels of fi
shmeal.

Acknowledgments The Purina and Supranor companies supplied

the ingredients for the diets.

References
lvarez AL, Racotta IS, Arjona O, Palacios E (2004) Salinity stress
test as a predictor of survival during grow out in Pacifics white
shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Aquaculture 237:237249 DOI
10.1016/j.aquaculture.2004.03.029
Barbieri RC, Ostrensky-Neto A (2001) Camares Marinhos, Reproduo, Maturao e Larvicultura. Aprenda Fcil, Viosa
Clifford HC (1992) Marine shrimp pond management: a review. In:
Chamberlain GW, Villaln J, Wyban J (eds) Proceeding of
special session on shrimp farming, 1992. World Aquaculture
Society, Orlando, pp 110137
Cornejo MAP, Curdova LM, Barajas FM, Pramo JN, Clark GP (1999)
Efeito de la macroalga Caulerpa sertularioides en el desarrollo del
camarn Penaeus californiensis (Decapoda: Peneidae). Centro de
Investigaciones Biolgicas del Noroeste, Sonora
Correia ES, Silva-Junior RF, Nono RGB, Santos RMS (2004)

J Appl Phycol (2009) 21:193197

Avaliao do crescimento do camaro marinho (Litopenaeus

vannamei) e da qualidade da gua em funo da utilizao de
quatro raes comerciais. VI Simpsio Brasileiro de Criadores de
Camaro, 2004, Natal
Cruz-Surez LE, Rieque-Marie D, Tapia-Salazar M, GuajardoBarbosa C (2000) Uso de harina de kelp (Macrocystis
pyrifera) en alimentos para camarn. Avances en Nutricin
Acuicola. V Simposium Internacional de Nutricin Acucola,
2000. Centro de Investigaciones y de Estudios Avanzados, Mrida,
pp 140
Diaz-Peferrer E, Lopz H (1961) Taxonomia, ecologia y valor
nutrimental de algas marinas cubanas. Instituto Cubano de
Investigacin Tecnolgica, Serie Estudios Sobre Trabajos de
Investigacin, Habana
EMBRAPA (1989) Tbua de composio qumica e valores energticos de alimentos para sunos e aves. Centro Nacional de
Pesquisa de Sunos e Aves, Concrdia
FAO (2005) Aquaculture production statistics. Available as: http:/
www.fao.org. Accessed on 24 October 24 2005
Halperin DR (1971) Las algas en la alimentacin humana. Contribucin Tcnica n. 10. CIBIMA, Buenos Aires
He H, Lawrence AL (1993) Vitamin C requirements of the shrimp
Penaeus vannamei. Aquaculture 114:305316 DOI 10.1016/
0044-8486(93)90305-I

197

vannamei (Boone, 1931). Dissertation, Federal University of

Pernambuco
McGraw WJ, Scarpa J (2004) Mortality of freshwaterRocha MRM, Nunes ML, Figueiredo MJ (1998) Cultivo de ps-larvas
acclimated
de Penaeus vannamei em berrios intensivos. Anais Aqicultura
Litopenaeus vannamei associated with acclimation rate, ha
Brasil 98, Recife, pp 298299
bituTahil
AS, Juinio-Menez MA (1999) Natural diet, feeding periodicity
ation period, and ionic challenge. Aquaculture 236:285296
and functional response to food density of the abalone, Haliotis
DOI
asinina L., (Gastropoda). Aquacult Res 30:95107
10.1016/j.aquaculture.2004.01.037
National Research Council (1989) Nutrient requirements of w
armwater fishes and shellfishes. National Academy, Washington
Pedreschi-Neto O (1999) Utilizao de resduos do milho de pipoc
a
(Zea mays L.) em raes para ps-larvas do camaro Litope
naeus