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Insects have been proposed as potential alternative animal protein sources to replace fishmeal (FM), which is expensive and has limited availability for fish feed formulation. However, studies on the effects of replacing FM with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSF‐L) on growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry, water quality and economic benefits are currently limited. This study determined the effects of replacing 100% FM, 75% FM, 50% FM, 25% FM and 0% FM with cheap BSF‐L meal, hereafter referred to as BSF‐L0, BSF‐L25, BSF‐L50, BSF‐L75 and BSF‐L100 diets, respectively for rearing all‐male Nile tilapia fry produced by YY technology. The study further determined the optimum percentage of BSF‐L meal for maximum growth of Nile tilapia fry. A total of 2400 visually healthy Nile tilapia fry weighing 0.001 g were randomly stocked into 20 plastic tanks (120 fry per tank, four replicates per treatment) and fed the BSF‐L diets for 12 weeks. The BSF‐L75 diet increased significantly specific growth rate, total weight gain, Zihler's index of fry and nitrate in the culture water but reduced feed conversion ratio of diet and total suspended solids in the culture water (p < 0.05). Feeding the Nile tilapia fry with BSF‐L50 diet increased significantly hepatosomatic index (p < 0.05). The diets with BSF‐L75 and BSF‐L100 reduced significantly the incidence cost by 31.97% and 28.77% (p < 0.05), and increased profit index by 3.97 and 3.44%, respectively. The optimum percentage of BSF‐L inclusion required for maximum growth performance of Nile tilapia fry was estimated as 81% to 84% based on polynomial analysis. Taken together, feeding Nile tilapia fry with diets containing 81% to 84% BSF‐L meal improved growth performance. The BSF‐L75 diet enhanced feed efficiency and had no deleterious effect on the liver and intestines. Meanwhile, it improved nitrate concentration for increased natural productivity. Incorporating 75% BSF‐L meal in diets for Nile tilapia fry reduced 30% of feed cost leading to 4% higher economic returns. Fishmeal is expensive and has limited availability for fish feed formulation. In this study we show that, the expensive and limited availability fishmeal can be replaced by diets containing 81% to 84% black soldier fry meal for improved growth performance and feed efficiency in Nile tilapia fry. Incorporating 75% BSF‐L meal in diets for Nile tilapia fry reduced 30% of feed cost leading to 4% higher economic returns.

Seeds and feeds are among the most important inputs required for sustainable aquaculture industry development in any country worldwide. However, the value chain analysis of seeds and feeds in most developing countries including Tanzania has not been mapped, and the key actors are not identified and characterized. To address this knowledge gap, we mapped the fish seed and feed value chains in Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Coast and Lindi regions in Tanzania, evaluated their performances, analyzed their contributions to aquaculture growth and finally assessed the critical factors impending aquaculture development before proposing appropriate strategies for upgrading. We found that the fish seed value chain comprised broodstock suppliers, seed producers, seed marketers, traders and fish farmers. Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) seeds produced were primarily sold to farmers at an advanced fry stage (1 to 5 g) at a price ranging from USD 0.09 to 0.13 and USD 0.22 to 0.27, respectively. The feed value chain consisted of suppliers, producers, importers, traders and fish farmers. The feeds produced were powdered, compressed and extruded pellets and granules sold at an average price of USD 2.50/kg. The seed and feed value chains in the four regions drive the aquaculture development and employ 137 and 109 people, respectively. The fish farming was mainly affected by insufficient seeds and feeds; inadequate extension services, inadequate technical skills in seed and feed production; limited farming equipment; insufficient capital and limited access to market. We propose increasing seed and feed production through collaborative research between researchers and the private sector, enhancing delivery of extension services to all fish farmers, providing fiscal incentives to hatchery and feed investors, organizing hatchery owners into associations, and undertaking marketing awareness campaign for aquaculture growth in the country for food, income and employment generation. The findings of this research reveal key players in Tanzanian seed and feed value chains, their contributions to aquaculture development and direct employment in Tanzania. Such knowledge does not exist in the Tanzania and other low income countries in sub‐Saharan Africa and elsewhere with diverse aquaculture systems leading to variations in domestic quantity and quality of inputs and services required for the aquaculture value chains.