Title: Technical Advisor

Company: BioMar

Biography:
Antonio Villanueva has a large experience in fish production, having occupied different positions in some of the sector’s leading companies, mostly related to larval and juvenile marine fish production, fish quality, and production management. Antonio currently works as Technical Advisor for marine fish hatcheries in BioMar, providing support to BioMar marine fish hatchery customers globally, participating in hatchery product development, and managing all marine fish hatchery validation tests. 

Speech session
Functional feeds for aquaculture

Speech
A strong first feeding and weaning, the best guarantee for strong juveniles

Abstract
Today, marine fish larvae production continues relying on live feeds for the initial feeding stages. These can provide essential nutrients to the larvae in an attractive and digestible format, but producing them is labor-intensive and they cannot fully meet the post-larval energy requirements. A swift and effective transition to high-quality feeds that properly cover the nutritional needs in this critical phase is paramount. Results from recent trials clearly indicate that using high-quality diets that include functional ingredients and probiotics throughout the larval and post-larval cycles contributes to gut integrity, improves nutrient uptake, resulting in improved survival, faster growth, reduced deformity rates, and simplified weaning.