Research shows Black Soldier Fly larvae meal can match fishmeal found in an Aquaculture diet, offering an innovative and sustainable protein feed source for Australia’s Trout and Barramundi aquaculture sectors.

High-value aquaculture species such as Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) need diets rich in protein and essential fatty acids. Traditionally, these needs have been met by fishmeal made from wild-caught fish, a resource that is both finite and, in some cases, under pressure.

As aquaculture expands, industry faces a critical question: how can it grow without increasing demand on wild fisheries?

One answer may come from insects. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) has already gained global attention as a sustainable source of protein for agriculture. FRDC project (2016-114), led by the University of Western Australia in partnership with industry producer Arvela (formerly Future Green Solutions), tested whether insect protein performs as well as fishmeal in aquaculture feed and if it can be produced at a commercial scale.

From proof-of-concept to practical diets

For project researcher Dr Isobel Sewell, then completing her PhD, the study was about more than just lab results.

“This was a proof-of-concept for Arvela,” she explains. “It wasn’t abstract research, it was about testing a real-world product with real-world applications, in partnership with industry.”

The team trialed BSF larvae meal in diets for juvenile and adult Rainbow Trout, juvenile Barramundi and even Marron. Growth rates, feed conversion and overall fish health were compared with standard commercial feeds.

Findings were encouraging, with Barramundi and Rainbow Trout fed BSF-based diets performing just as well as those on traditional fishmeal diets, provided the formulations were carefully balanced. Marron, in fact, performed better than expected.

The fat factor

One of the most important insights was the difference between full-fat and defatted BSF meal.

“With Barramundi, we found the defatted product performed equivalently to commercial diets at realistic inclusion rates,” Isobel says. “But the full-fat meal led to increases in cholesterol and fat deposits around the viscera. 

“That told us defatted products are a much better fit for long-term fish health.”

Principal Investigator Dr Jan Hemmi, who is a Professor at the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Western Australia, says this is a significant step forward for the sector.

“Showing that insect meal can match fishmeal performance is critical,” Jan explains. “It means we’re starting to see insect protein not as a compromise, but as a genuine alternative in aquafeeds.”

Waste into value

A unique feature of BSF farming is the ability to raise larvae on organic waste streams. The project tested how different feed substrates, including agricultural by-products and fish processing offal, affected larval growth, survival and nutritional quality.

Larvae raised on diets including 12–25 per cent fish offal showed the fastest growth and highest protein content, while also producing a nutrient-rich frass (waste excreted from insects) that can be reused as fertiliser.

“This circular approach means we’re not just replacing fishmeal,” Isobel explains. “We’re creating multiple value streams; sustainable protein for aquaculture and fertiliser for agriculture.”

Challenges and opportunities

Isobel says one of the biggest lessons came not from the lab, but from the project’s collaborative approach.

“Too often, research happens at arm’s length from industry. This project was different in that we worked closely with Avela from day one. That was incredibly rewarding, because you could see how the findings connected directly to commercial outcomes.”

Luke Wheat, Founder and Managing Director of Arvela, agrees with this sentiment. “For us, this project was about building confidence in a product we knew had potential. Having strong science to show Black Soldier Fly meal can perform alongside fishmeal is a huge step in opening up aquafeed markets in Australia.”

For insect protein to become mainstream in aquafeeds, three things need to line up: performance, scale and cost. The FRDC project ticked the first box. Scaling production and reaching cost competitiveness remain the next frontier.

Isobel sees the future of BSF meal not as a single “silver bullet,” but as blended diets. “Black Soldier Fly isn’t perfect on its own, it’s lower in some fatty acids, for example. But when combined with other novel proteins, it has real potential to deliver sustainable, nutritionally complete feeds that reduce reliance on finite resources.”

For FRDC, the significance goes beyond a single species or feed trial.

“This is about food security,” says FRDC Project Manager Toby Piddocke. “We’re turning waste into a resource, supporting the growth of aquaculture and easing pressure on wild fish stocks. That’s innovation that benefits industry, the environment and the community.”

Related FRDC Project

2016-114: Insect protein for aquaculture feed