The Bahamas, like the rest of the Caribbean region, faces a challenge in achieving food security, with over 90% of its food supply imported annually. 

The term food security refers to the accessibility—both physical and economic—of safe and nutritious foods to all people at all times. 

The Bahamas heavy reliance on imports leaves the nation vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Bahamian government has acknowledged the urgent need to increase local food production and has committed to prioritizing food security initiatives. This shift has opened new avenues for agricultural and aquacultural innovation, emphasizing sustainable practices and local resource utilization.

The Potential for Aquaculture in The Bahamas

Aquaculture has emerged as a promising solution to addressing food production in The Bahamas. However, one of the key obstacles to its expansion, much like all livestock farming, is the high cost and limited availability of quality feed. To address this issue, researchers at the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) have initiated a groundbreaking project aimed at developing homemade fish feed from locally-sourced ingredients. The study focused on producing feed for Nile tilapia using alternative ingredients such as fish discards, spiny lobster discards, black soldier fly larvae, moringa, cassava, brewer’s spent grain, and even sweet potato leaves. These ingredients were chosen for their nutrient profiles and local availability, with the aim of reducing dependency on imported feed while promoting sustainability.

Identifying Sources of Alternative Feed

The ingredient selection process was an important element of the project. Fish and spiny lobster discards from local fisheries, often considered waste products, were repurposed as valuable sources of protein and essential fatty acids. Black soldier fly larvae, widely recognized for their high protein content and rapid growth cycle, were cultivated locally to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional fishmeal. Plant-based ingredients—including moringa, cassava, and sweet potato leaves—offered additional sources of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Brewer’s spent grain, a byproduct of the brewing industry, was incorporated as a cost-effective and readily available ingredient rich in fiber and protein. This grain was obtained from the Commonwealth Brewery in Nassau.

Formulating the feed involved grinding these and other ingredients into a fine powder, mixing them into a balanced blend, then pelletizing the mixture. This process ensured uniformity in the feed composition, improving its water stability and ease of consumption by the fish. The team also conducted proximate analyses to determine the nutritional content of the feed, ensuring it met the dietary requirements of Nile tilapia.

Project Findings Demonstrate Viability of Sustainable Feed Alternatives

The team is happy to report that, when compared to the commercial feed currently used in aquaculture, the homemade feed recorded comparable growth rates and the fish showed positive health parameters, suggesting that the homemade feed would serve as a suitable replacement for the imported commercial feed when available. 

The environmental benefits of using locally-sourced ingredients are significant. Incorporating fishery discards, brewer’s spent grain, and other agricultural byproducts into the feed aligns with the principles of a circular economy. This approach reduces organic waste that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation, such as marine pollution or greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. Additionally, by creating a demand for these byproducts, the project fosters economic opportunities for local industries and communities using materials that would otherwise go unused.

From an economic perspective, the initial production cost of the homemade feed was slightly higher than the commercial diet due to the small-scale nature of the trial. However, researchers believe that scaling up production and optimizing ingredient sourcing could significantly reduce costs. Local production has the potential to protect farmers from price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions associated with imported feeds, thereby increasing the resilience of the aquaculture sector in The Bahamas.

Looking Ahead

The implications of this research extend beyond aquaculture, and the integrated approach to feed could have beneficial applications in other forms of farming.

Researchers at the Cape Eleuthera Institute are exploring ways to develop feeds for other kinds of livestock such as chickens and rabbits using similar principles. By leveraging agricultural byproducts, fishery discards, and other local resources, these efforts aim to support more sustainable and self-sufficient farming practices on the island, where high costs and overall unreliable supply of imported feeds affects the viability of livestock farming. Additionally, this approach minimizes waste and can create new economic opportunities. For instance, chicken farmers could benefit from feed made with brewer’s spent grain and black soldier fly larvae, while rabbit farmers could utilize plant-based ingredients like cassava and moringa. 

These initiatives align with the broader goals of promoting food security and reducing reliance on costly imports, which is especially critical for island communities.

Despite its promising outcomes, the project faced several challenges. Ensuring the consistent availability and quality of local ingredients remains a critical concern. Seasonal variations in the supply of certain ingredients, such as agricultural byproducts, could affect feed production. Additionally, the scalability of black soldier fly larvae cultivation and the logistics of collecting fishery discards require further exploration. Future research will focus on refining feed formulations to enhance their nutritional value and cost-effectiveness. Investigating the potential of fermenting plant-based ingredients, such as cassava and moringa, to improve nutrient bioavailability is a key area of interest. 

While challenges remain, the findings underscore the potential for locally produced feeds to drive economic, environmental, and social benefits. With continued research to help address the challenges, this research showcases how sustainable practices in aquaculture can help to boost the entire local agricultural landscape. The successful implementation of these strategies could position Eleuthera as a model for integrated farming systems in the Caribbean, with benefits that ripple across local economies and ecosystems.