NUTRITION

Early diets shape future fish: why larval nutrition matters more than we thought

ACUIPALMA, preengorde doradas y lubinas

For years, innovation in aquaculture nutrition has focused mainly on what fish are fed during grow-out: new ingredients, alternative proteins, functional additives or precision feeding strategies. Yet a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the real game may start much earlier.

A recent review published in Aquaculture Nutrition shows that nutrition during the earliest life stages can leave long-lasting metabolic effects on fish, shaping growth, feed utilisation and dietary resilience later on.

Early feeding, therefore, is no longer just about survival. It may define fish performance months — or even years — down the line.

The concept behind this research is known as nutritional programming. In simple terms, it means that nutrition during early development can shape how fish metabolism works later in life. According to the review, fish exposed early to specific nutrient profiles — through broodstock diets or first feeding — can develop lasting changes in feed utilisation, growth regulation, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and tolerance to alternative feed ingredients.

These effects are not driven by genetic changes, but by epigenetic mechanisms: molecular switches that turn genes on or off in response to early nutritional cues.

Several studies analysed in the review show that fish briefly exposed early in life to plant-based proteins or vegetable oils later accept and use those ingredients more efficiently when reintroduced during grow-out. In some species, this early exposure reduces metabolic stress and improves nutrient utilisation when marine ingredients are limited.

At a time when fishmeal and fish oil are increasingly constrained, the message is clear: feed transitions cannot rely on formulation alone. Early nutritional history may play a decisive role in whether alternative feeds succeed or fail at farm level.

The review also brings broodstock feeding back into focus. Maternal nutrition influences egg composition, hormone levels and the early metabolic set-up of larvae. Poor broodstock diets may therefore limit the effectiveness of even the most carefully designed larval feeds.

For hatcheries, this underlines a critical point: nutritional decisions taken months before first feeding can shape production outcomes much later on.

Despite its potential, the review is cautious. Most nutritional programming studies focus on juvenile stages, with limited data extending to harvest size. Responses vary widely between species, and timing, duration and nutrient balance are critical. In some cases, observed effects may be temporary or reversible.

The authors warn against overinterpretation and stress that poorly designed early diets could just as easily lock in negative traits.

For now, nutritional programming is not a ready-to-use tool. But its implications suggest that the future performance of farmed fish may already be shaped in their very first days of life.

Reference:

Kumar, S., Banik, A., Dubey, M. K., Srivastava, P. P., & Sandor, Z. J. (2026). Early Nutritional Programing: Unlocking the Potential of Fish for Sustainable Aquaculture. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2026, Article ID 3380126. https://doi.org/10.1155/anu/3380126