When people think about aquaculture, they often picture fish, water, and sea cages or tanks. Feed is usually seen as simple part of the picture — just pellets that make fish grow. But in reality, feed is the invisible engine that drives the entire aquaculture system. You can think of feed as the fuel in a car. The fuel doesn’t just make the car move — it determines how hot the engine runs, how large the cooling system must be, and how efficiently the whole vehicle operates. In aquaculture, feed affects how fast fish grow, fish health and welfare, how much waste is produced, and how the entire system must be designed and operated — especially in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Understanding feed means understanding aquaculture at it's core. Feed and Fish Growth At its most basic level, feed provides fish with energy and nutrients. The quality of feed determines how efficiently fish convert feed into growth. A good feed: Supports steady growth Improves fish health and welfare Re