We have news about the latest advancements! Studies, publications, and news about the power of Artificial Intelligence to predict oxygen levels, the revolution in large-scale tropical algae farming, and the promising replacement of traditional ingredients with larvae meal. In marine biotechnology, news on how fishing byproducts can be transformed into valuable resources, while a macroalgae extract protects Senegalese sole against disease. All in the B2E CoLAB Technological Sonar of the month of March.

AQUACULTURE

Artificial Intelligence to predict dissolved oxygen levels in aquaculture environments

Using the Internet of Things (IoT), researchers at the Shandong Marine Technology Center in China have proposed a new combined method to accurately predict oxygen levels, which reduces data noise, poor quality, and non-linear properties. The proposed model identifies four water quality parameters: electrical conductivity, water temperature, turbidity, and water level, which are considered important to improve the model’s performance in predicting dissolved oxygen concentration. The authors consider the model suitable for non-linear prediction of dissolved oxygen concentration in small samples from non-stationary commercial aquaculture tanks. Another advantage of this method is the possibility of real-time monitoring of other water quality parameters such as atmospheric parameters (temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure).

Mis Peces
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Evaluation of Tenebrio molitor (whole meal) as a feed ingredient for Solea senegalensis: Effects on growth performance and lipid profile

Mealworm larvae are considered one of the most promising protein sources to replace fishmeal in aquatic feeds, among other things, because they are rich in protein, a good source of micronutrients, and have a low carbon footprint and land use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially replacing plant or marine ingredients with whole mealworm larvae meal, at two different levels, on the growth performance and fatty acid profile of Senegalese sole. To this end, the study tested a control diet and four experimental diets. The addition of insect meal resulted in an increased growth rate in both cases, whether replacing fish or vegetable meal. This led to a decrease in total muscle lipids, while maintaining relative levels of n-3 PUFA and DHA, and improving n-3:n-6 lipid health indices.

NCBI
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World’s largest tropical algae farm begins operations

Sea6 Energy – an India-based seaweed producer – has launched the world’s first large-scale mechanized tropical algae farm. The farm, covering an area of ​​1 km2, represents a significant milestone in establishing the scalability of sustainable tropical algae cultivation, with potential applications including biostimulants, bioplastics, and the ongoing research and development of renewable chemicals and fuels.

TheFishSite
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LIVING MARINE RESOURCES

Hypolipidemic effect of brown algae extract (Sargassum crassifolium)

The aim of this study was to obtain natural drugs from brown algae (Sargassum crassifolium) as candidates for anti-atherosclerosis through the study of hypolipidemic mechanisms of action. An experimental animal model of dyslipidemic mice was obtained through a high-fat diet for 60 days, subsequently verifying that crude fucoidan had antidyslipidemic activity in the dyslipidemic mouse model. Doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/KgBB of crude fucoidan for 21 days in dyslipidemic rats showed that they presented adipose morphological characteristics similar to the morphology under normal circumstances and the morphological structure of the liver also decreased in severity and inflammation. The expression of VCAM-1. ICAM-1. MCP-1 mRNA in adipose tissue and liver showed that administration of the 3 treatment doses in dyslipidemic rats was able to significantly reduce mRNA expression compared to controls fed a high-fat diet.

NCBI
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The potential of marine worms as substitutes for aquatic feeds

In response to the current state of aquatic animal feed production, researchers at Aarhus University tested a method for cultivating marine enchytraeid worms for use as an alternative feed source, using decomposing seaweed as a substrate. Using a mixture of soil and dried and rehydrated seaweed as a growth medium, the researchers were able to achieve semi-industrial levels of enchytraeid biomass production. With the ability to

Cultivated and fed with industrial organic waste, these worms offer a promising solution to reduce dependence on marine food sources, thus relieving pressure on marine ecosystems. To determine the potential of enchytraeid worms as an aquatic feed alternative, researchers tested their ability to provide adequate nutrition to six species of juvenile farmed fish. Turbot, sole, and whitefish showed significantly greater growth when fed live enchytraeid worms than when fed conventional aquatic feed.

TheFishSite
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Insect Production Process Using Carbon Capture

A method for producing insect food is presented, which includes: passing a stream of gas containing CO2 into a solution containing water and algae, collecting algae from the solution, and processing the collected algae to produce insect food. Also provided is a system for algae production that includes: a bypass valve connectable to a gas outlet of an industrial plant in order to divert a gas flow from the industrial plant, a photobioreactor containing a solution containing water and algae, and a gas channel that fluidly connects the bypass valve and the photobioreactor, wherein the gas channel is configured to pass the diverted gas flow to the solution contained in the photobioreactor.

WIPO
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MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY

Gastrointestinal administration of collagen hydrolysates derived from cod skin: Deep eutectic solvent extraction and bioactivity analysis

In this study, collagen derived from cod skin was extracted using deep eutectic solvents, namely, a urea:propanoic acid mixture (U:PA; 1:2) followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with alcalase. The resulting bioactive peptides demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity and antihypertensive properties. Subsequently, these hydrolysates (39%) were encapsulated in chitosan-tripolyphosphate capsules, which released approximately 58% of their contents, primarily in the intestine, as mimicked in the in vitro model of the gastrointestinal tract.

NCB
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An extract from the macroalga Ulva improves the resistance of Senegalese sole to diseases

Ulvane, a sulfated marine polysaccharide from the macroalga Ulva ohnoi, obtained by the hot water and ethanol precipitation method, revealed optimal chemical and structural properties for use as an immunonutrient in aquaculture, with beneficial effects when in appropriate concentrations. Studies showed that this sulfated marine polysaccharide did not present any toxicity at concentrations up to 1 mg/mL for 24 hours. Dietary administration of 1% ulvan extract for 30 days resulted in a significant improvement in the immune response and resistance to bacterial infection in juvenile Senegalese flounder.

Mis Peces
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Method for constructing and utilizing an astaxanthin synthesis pathway in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

A method for constructing and utilizing an astaxanthin synthesis pathway in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is presented. The construction method includes the design and assembly of an astaxanthin synthesis module and the functional verification of the astaxanthin synthesis module in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The resulting transgenic algal strain may allow for the rapid and economical production of astaxanthin through large-scale culture.

WIPO
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