Importance of Toxin Binders in Aquatic Animals Nutrition

The aquaculture industry is increasingly facing the challenge of fungal toxins and harmful compounds in fish feed. These toxins, which are mainly called mycotoxins, can cause a wide range of negative effects on the health and performance of aquatic animals. Some of these problems include reduced growth, weakening of the immune system, damage to the liver and kidneys of aquatic animals, and finally their death. Contamination with mycotoxins in aquatic food not only endangers their health, but consumption of contaminated aquatics may be a way for mycotoxins to enter the human food chain and threaten food security and public health. The most important mycotoxins in agricultural products and fish feed are aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, and zearalenone. To use crops in aquaculture production, efforts should be made to control their contamination with fungi and mycotoxins. Toxin binders have emerged as an innovative solution to deal with these threats and play a vital role in improving aquatic health, and growth, reducing losses, meat quality, reducing breeding costs, and sustainability in aquaculture.