A team of researchers in Pakistan recently conducted a study that examined the protective effects of dietary hemp seed products (hemp seed oil and hemp seed) against copper-induced toxicity in fish.
The team of researchers in Pakistan that led the study is associated with the Department of Zoology at Islamia College Peshawar, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Program at the Department of Zoology Islamabad, and the Aquaculture Laboratory at the Department of Zoology at the University of Sialkot.
As part of the study, the fish were exposed to copper for 30 days and then maintained on different levels of hemp seed oil or hemp seed for 50 days. The results showed that copper exposure significantly increased various blood parameters and liver function tests in both species of fish.
However, the use of hemp seed supplementation successfully restored the parameters to normal levels in both species of fish involved in the study. The study’s findings suggest that hemp seed products could be used as animal feed ingredients for their therapeutic role in reducing copper toxicity.
According to Market Data Forecast, the global fish food market was worth an estimated 106.91 billion dollars in 2021 and is estimated to increase in market value to 197.21 billion dollars by 2027.
Rare Earth Global, growers of industrial hemp for a range of sustainable products, received £50,000 in funding from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) in August 2022 to examine how hemp could be integrated into the diets of farmed salmon in Scotland.
The study will focus on the use of hemp seeds in aquaculture, as it is rich in essential fatty acids and has a high protein content. The researchers will analyze the nutritional composition of hemp seeds and their potential benefits for fish growth and health, as well as the environmental sustainability of using hemp seeds as fish feed.
The study is expected to provide valuable insights into the use of alternative and sustainable sources of fish feed, which could reduce the reliance on traditional fish meal and promote a more environmentally friendly aquaculture industry.