Minireview – Fruits Waste as Alternative Feed Ingredients in Aquaculture
Abstract
Agricultural byproducts of fruit waste, such as banana peels, mango peels, orange peels, pomegranate peels, and pineapple peels, are sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds that have the potential to be used as raw materials for functional feed in aquaculture. This mini-review article aims to summarize various studies on the nutritional content, bioactive compounds, and the effects of fruit waste utilization on the growth, immune system, stress resistance, and health of farmed fish. Various studies have shown that fruit waste contains protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenes, and carotenoids that act as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and immunostimulants. The use of fruit waste at appropriate doses has been shown to improve feed efficiency, growth performance, survival rates, and immune responses in fish, although its effectiveness is influenced by the type of waste, fish species, and the level of addition to the feed. The use of fruit waste as a feed raw material not only supports the development of sustainable aquaculture through the waste-to-wealth and circular economy concepts but also has the potential to reduce environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of agricultural waste.
Downloads
References
Amjad, M., Hussain, S. M., Ali, S., Rizwan, M., Ahmad, A., & Yong, J. W. H. (2025). Evaluation of various biochars as feed supplements for common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Waste and Biomass Valorization, 16, 901–910. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-024-02652-3
Asiri, F., & Chu, K.-H. (2022). Valorization of agro-industrial wastes into polyhydroxyalkanoates-rich single-cell proteins to enable a circular waste-to-feed economy. Chemosphere, 309, 136660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136660
Barreto, A., Couto, A., Jerónimo, D., Laranjeira, A., Silva, B., Nunes, C., Veríssimo, A. C. S., Pinto, D. C. G. A., Dias, J., Pacheco, M., Costas, B., & Rocha, R. J. M. (2024). Salicornia ramosissima biomass as a partial replacement of wheat meal in diets for juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Animals, 14(4), 614. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14040614
Cheng, S.-Y., & Chuang, H.-C. (2026). Banana peel valorization for sustainable aquaculture: Improving fish welfare and water quality. Journal of Environmental Management, 410, 130110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130110
Doan, H. V., Hoseinifar, S. H., Harikrishnan, R., Khamlor, T., Punyatong, M., Tapingkae, W., Yousefi, M., Palma, J., & El-Haroun, E. (2021). Impacts of pineapple peel powder on growth performance, innate immunity, disease resistance, and relative immune gene expression of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish & shellfish immunology, 114, 311–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2021.04.002
Doan, H. V., Wannavijit, S., Tayyamath, K., Quynh, T. T. D., Ninyamasiri, P., Linh, N. V., Wongmaneeprateep, S., Rodkhum, C., Seesuriyachan, P., Phimolsiripol, Y., & Hoseinifar, S. H. (2025). Impact of fermented corn cob as external carbon source on growth performance, innate immunity, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in biofloc system. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 163, 110413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110413
Giri, S. S., Jun, J. W., Sukumaran, V., & Park, S. C. (2016). Dietary administration of banana (Musa acuminata) peel flour affects the growth, antioxidant status, cytokine responses, and disease susceptibility of rohu, Labeo rohita. Journal of Immunology Research, 2016, 4086591. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4086591
Haetami, K., Zidni, I., Rostika, R., Ginanjar, W. (2019). Effect of Addition of banana peel extract on commercial feed as an effort to reduce patin cannibalism (Pangasius hypophthalmus) larval stage. Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research, 4(4); 1-9. https://doi.org/ 10.9734/AJFAR/2019/v4i430063
Ho, S.-W., Hsu, H.-Y., Huang, M.-Y., Han, Y.-S., Ho, S.-Y., & Chu, J.-H. (2026). Utilization of pickled cabbage wastewater as a medium for microalgae cultivation to replace fishmeal in sea urchin feed. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2026, 6673565. https://doi.org/10.1155/anu/6673565
Iber, B. T., Torsabo, D., Kamaruzzan, A. S., Nor, M. N. M., Sheikh Abdullah, S. R., Shafie, M. S., Manan, H., Abdullah, M. I., & Kasan, N. A. (2025). Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability. Discover Food, 5, 207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00495-3
Kari, Z. A., Sukri, S. A. M., Rusli, N. D., Mat, K., Mahmud, M. B., Zakaria, N. N. A., Wee, W., Hamid, N. K. A., Kabir, M. A., Ahmad Ariff, N. S. N., Abidin, S. Z., Zakaria, M. K., Goh, K. W., Khoo, M. I., Doan, H. V., Tahiluddin, A., & Wei, L. S. (2023). Recent advances, challenges, opportunities, product development and sustainability of main agricultural wastes for the aquaculture feed industry – A review. Annals of Animal Science, 23(1), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0082
Leyva-López, N., Lizárraga-Velázquez, C. E., Hernández, C., & Sánchez-Gutiérrez, E. Y. (2020). Exploitation of agro-industrial waste as potential source of bioactive compounds for aquaculture. Foods, 9(7), 843. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9070843
Li, H., Li, H., Duan, J., Guo, S., Wang, Z., Yin, W., Zhang, H., & Zhang, H. (2026). Dietary Chrysanthemum morifolium stem and leaf extract alleviates high-temperature stress-induced intestinal and gill damage in zebrafish. Industrial Crops & Products, 248, 123601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123601
Liu, X., Wu, C., Wang, K., Dewangan, N. K., Li, P., Yu, X., Yu, G., Yang, Z., Li, Z., & Dong, P. (2026). Effects of peanut shells serving as a carbon source and microbial carrier on bacterial community structure in Penaeus vannamei culture water. Frontiers in Microbiology, 17, 1778957. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1778957
Lourenço, S., Neves, M., Gonçalves, E. M., Roseiro, C., Pombo, A., Raimundo, D., & Pinheiro, J. (2025). Fruit and vegetable processing by-products as potential ingredients for aquafeed: A review. Discover Food, 5, 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00309-6
Lubis, A. R., Linh, N. V., Srinual, O., Fontana, C. M., Tayyamath, K., Wannavijit, S., Ninyamasiri, P., Uttarotai, T., Tapingkae, W., Phimolsiripol, Y., & Doan, H. V. (2024). Passion fruit pectin and red yeast cell wall as potential synbiotics in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on growth, immunity, and gut microbiota. Scientific Reports, 14, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73194-1
Macusi, D. A. S., Macusi, E. D., & Jimenez, J. E. M. (2025). Mango (Mangifera indica) and banana (Musa acuminata) peelings as alternative and sustainable feeds for red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, 29(5), 531–550. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2025.333
Mala, T., Puayura, S., Itthivadhanapong, P. (2024). Characterization of dried pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) peel powder and its application as a novel functional food ingredient in cracker product. Future Foods, 9, 100322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100322
Mansour, A. T., Hamed, H. S., El-Beltagi, H. S., & Mohamed, W. F. (2022). Modulatory effect of papaya extract against chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress, immune suppression, endocrine disruption, and DNA damage in female Clarias gariepinus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4640. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084640
Marchão, R. S., Copatti, C. E., Oliveira, E. P., Rocha, A. S., Souza, A. M., Rocha, D. R., Camargo, A. C. S., & Melo, J. F. B. (2024). Effects of the replacement corn meal by whole mango meal on tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) diet: Digestibility, growth performance, biochemical, and hematological responses. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 96(3), e20230662. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202420230662
Mathew, R. T., Ashour, M., Alkhamis, Y. A., Alsaqufi, A. S., Mansour, A. T., Almohaimeed, H. M., Alshammari, N. S., Aljarari, R. M., Eissa, M. E. H., & Eissa, E.-S. H. (2026). Dried bottle gourd flowers (Lagenaria siceraria) in Nile tilapia diets: Effects on growth and health. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 179, 105615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2026.105615
Motlagh, H. A., Rokhnareh, Z., Safari, O., & Selahvarzi, Y. (2021). Growth performance and intestinal microbial changes of Carassius auratus in response to pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract-supplemented diets. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 52(4), 820–828. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12754
Oh, H. Y., Kim, K.-T., Lee, T. H., Kang, D. Y., Kwon, D.-H., Kim, Y. W., & Kim, H. S. (2025). Functional potential of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) juice by-products as a natural feed additive for juvenile red seabream (Pagrus major): Implications for antibiotic-free aquaculture. Antibiotics, 14(11), 1096. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111096
Outama, P., Le Xuan, C., Wannavijit, S., Lumsangkul, C., Linh, N. V., Montha, N., Tongsiri, S., Chitmanat, C., & Van Doan, H. (2022). Modulation of growth, immune response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared under biofloc system using mango peel powder. Fish & shellfish immunology, 131, 1136–1143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2022.09.031
Oz, M., Dikel, S., İleri, E., Çifci, S., Budak, F., & Üstüner, E. (2026). Enhancing biological stability through protected feed formulations and environmental improvements in aquaculture: A review of probiotics and prebiotics. Journal of Fish Diseases, (Early View), jfd.70227. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.70227
Pereira, R., Basto, A., Pintado, M., Valente, L. M. P., & Velasco, C. (2025). Inclusion of pineapple by-products as natural antioxidant sources in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Antioxidants, 14(3), 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14030333
Pinheiro, A. G. S., Carli, G. C., Satiro, T. M., D'Amore Soares, H. H., Franchini, A. C., de Oliveira, L. C., & Takahashi, L. S. (2026). Dietary fiber from passion fruit residue affects lipid metabolism in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Cuvier 1818). Aquaculture, 625, 744317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.744317
Punzalan, J. K. M., & Rosentrater, K. A. (2024). Copra meal: A review of its production, properties, and prospects. Animals, 14(11), 1689. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111689
Qiang, J., Khamis, O. A. M., Jiang, H. J., Cao, Z. M., He, J., Tao, Y. F., Xu, P., & Bao, J. W. (2019). Effects of dietary supplementation with apple peel powder on the growth, blood and liver parameters, and transcriptome of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus). PLoS ONE, 14(11), e0224995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224995
Ramírez-Carmona, M., Rendón-Castrillón, L., Ocampo-López, C., & Sánchez-Osorno, D. (2022). Fish food production using agro-industrial waste enhanced with Spirulina sp. Sustainability, 14(10), 6059. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106059
Rapa, M., Darie-Nit,ă, R. N., & Coman, G. (2024). Valorization of fruit and vegetable waste into sustainable and value-added materials. Waste, 2(3), 258–278. https://doi.org/10.3390/waste2030015
Reda, R. M., Abd El-Rahim, M. I., Elkerdawy, D. A., Metwally, M. M. M., & Said, N. (2024). Evaluation of mandarin peel as a functional feed supplement for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised at suboptimal temperatures. BMC Veterinary Research, 20, 446. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04273-8
Salem, M. and Abdel-Ghany, H. M. (2018). Effect of dietary orange peel on growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Aquaculture Studies, 18 (2); 127-134. http://doi.org/10.4194/2618-6381-v18_2_06
Sayed-Lafi, R. M., Sahib, A. A., Taresh, R. K., & Khalaf, R. M. (2026). Activities of pomegranate peels in aquaculture: Scope and trends. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, 30(2), 1707–1738. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2026.1707
Serratos, I. N., García Torres, J. A., Mendoza Téllez, J. L., Silva Roy, D., Soto Estrada, A. M., Leyva López, N. E., Rodríguez González, H., Le Borgne, S., Sánchez-Sánchez, K. L., & Sosa Fonseca, R. (2025). Banana peel based cellulose material for agriculture and aquiculture: Toward circular economy. Polymers, 17(9), 1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091230
Shabana, M.S., Karthika, M., Ramasubramanian, V. (2019). Effect of dietary Citrus sinensis peel extract on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, muscle biochemical composition, and metabolic enzyme status of the freshwater fish, Catla catla. The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology, 80 (51). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41936-019-0119-x
Sharker, M. R., Sumi, K. R., Afroz, M., Haque, S. A., Islam, M. F., Rahman, M. M., Shalehin, A. N. M. M., & Choi, S. D. (2025). Evaluation of mango kernel meal as a functional additive for carp (Gibelion catla). Scientific Reports, (In press).. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-762
Srisaen, W., Sutthi, N., Rinthong, P.-o., Chaiyasing, R., Prisingkorn, W., Kersanté, P., Nontasan, S., & Wangkahart, E. (2026). Evaluation of mangosteen peel extract on growth and immune status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 168, 111009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2025.111009
Sukri, S. A. M., Andu, Y., Sarijan, S., Khalid, H.-N. M., Kari, Z. A., Harun, H. C., Rusli, N. D., Mat, K., Khalif, R. I. A. R., Wei, L. S., Rahman, M. M., Hakim, A. H., Lokman, N. H. N., Hamid, N. K. A., Khoo, M. I., & Doan, H. V. (2023). Pineapple waste in animal feed: A review of nutritional potential, impact and prospects. Annals of Animal Science, 23(2), 339–352.. https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0080
Thakur, A., Kotiyal, A., & Thoudam, J. (2025). Fruit peels as a sustainable food source for aquaculture: A review. World Development Sustainability, 7, 100234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wds.2025.100234
Tuci, G. A., Gottardo, M., Parmar Chitharanjan, A., Cardinaletti, G., Pascon, G., Pavan, P., & Valentino, F. (2025). PHA-rich microbial biomass derived from winery waste for sustainable aquafeeds. New BIOTECHNOLOGY, 89, 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2025.06.003
Vijayan, L., Arumugam, M., Palaniyappan, S., Jayaraman, S., Brown, P. B., Kari, Z. A., Abdel-Warith, A.-W. A., Younis, E. M., & Ramasamy, T. (2024). Utilization of sustainable agri-waste watermelon rind for fishmeal in Labeo rohita diets: Effects on nutritional indices, hemato-biochemical properties, histoarchitechtural traits, amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Aquaculture Reports, 36, 102045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2024.102045
Wang, Y., Nie, M.-Z., Shi, P., Liu, Y.-S., Lan, W.-B., Dai, Z.-R., Adeel, M., & Javed, H. U. (2026). From waste to wellness: Citrus by-products as nutritional and immunological enhancers in aquaculture. Food Chemistry: X, 33, 103523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2026.103523
Yousefi, M., Hoseini, S. M., Kulikov, E. V., Babichev, N. V., Bolshakova, M. V., Shopinskaya, M. I., Rogov, R. V., & Zharov, A. N. (2023). Effects of dietary pomegranate peel supplementation on growth performance and biochemical responses of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, to chronic crowding stress. Aquaculture Reports, 30, 101532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2023.101532
Zhuo, L.-C., Chen, C.-F., & Lin, Y.-H. (2021). Effects of fermented lemon peel supplementation on growth performance, immune response and resistance to Photobacterium damselae in orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 117, 248–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2021.08.006
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the GPH Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.


















