In any form of aquaculture, intensive, or semi-intensive, a well balanced diet and adequate feeding are essential. Without such a supply of food and its proper utilization by the fish, aquaculture cannot proceed.
The production of nutritionally balanced diets for fish cultured intensively or semi-intensively requires research, quality control, biological evaluation, and technological and engineering skills. A diet can influence the well-being of a fish both positively and negatively. Positively, a good diet means good growth. Negatively, a diet can induce nutrient deficiencies, imbalances or toxicoses or introduce infective agents into the fish. A well balanced diet not only results in higher production but also provides the nutrients necessary to hasten recovery from disease or to help the fish overcome the effects of environmental stress.
