Housefly Maggot Meal: A Review on Sustainable Protein Source for Feed ingredient in Aquaculture Production: Status and Trends

The future faces significant challenges for the supply of sufficient fish protein, particularly in emerging nations, due to the expanding global population and rising consumer demand. Owing to its high nutritional content, fishmeal is frequently the primary source of animal protein in fish diets. However, studies on reducing or substituting fishmeal with more affordable protein sources derived from plants or animals have been prompted by the restricted supply and rising expenses of fishmeal. Therefore, the growth of intensive fish culture will mostly depend on the hunt for suitable and affordable substitute sources of protein to be incorporated into commercial fish diets. Insect meals are a nutrient-dense and healthy alternative to fish meals because they are high in protein, fat, and minerals. Maggots, the larvae of the domestic fly (Musca domestica), can grow on a large range of substrates, which can make them useful for turning waste into valuable biomass rich in protein and fat. Fish feed made from edible insects, especially maggots, has good zootechnical performance since their chemical makeup is comparable to or superior to that of traditional diet sources. This chapter aims to summarize the studies on different production techniques of maggots, their nutritional value, and the various forms in which they affect growth, feed utilization, biochemical parameters, and immune response in fish.