
One of the main challenges facing the aquaculture industry is feeding the organisms in culture. In this context, the application of carbon chain C2-C8 carboxylates (2-8 CC) has emerged as a promising strategy with the potential to revolutionize the aquaculture sector.
Scientists from Ningbo University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Nord University published a scientific review in Reviews in Aquaculture on the current knowledge regarding the effects of C2-C8 systems in aquaculture. They analyzed the functions, environmental impacts, benefits, challenges, and future research directions.
What are carbon chain C2-C8 carboxylates (2-8 CC)?
Carbon chain carboxylates with 2 to 8 carbons (2–8 CCs) are organic compounds characterized by a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to a carbon chain ranging from 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
The chemical structure of 2-8 CCs enables them to participate in various biochemical processes, making them valuable for different applications. Due to their antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties, 2–8 CCs are relevant in various fields, including animal nutrition, human health, and industrial applications.
The 2-8 CC group includes diverse organic acids such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) like caproic, caprylic, and capric acids. While SCFAs have been extensively studied in aquaculture, MCFAs have received relatively less attention despite their potential to provide significant benefits.
In aquaculture, using 2–8 CCs has proven to be a promising strategy to enhance the industry’s performance and sustainability. These compounds have shown significant potential to improve growth performance, feed efficiency, immune responses, gut health, antioxidant capacity, and water quality.
Benefits of 2-8 CC in aquaculture nutrition
Carbon chain C2-C8 carboxylates (2-8 CCs) offer multiple benefits in aquaculture, positively impacting performance, health, and sustainability. These benefits stem from their antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. The 2-8 CCs include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) like caproate, heptanoate, and caprylate.
The main benefits of 2-8 CCs in aquaculture are:
- Improved growth performance and feed efficiency: Supplementing aquaculture feed with 2-8 CCs has been shown to enhance weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), final weight (FW), and feed efficiency (FE) in various aquatic species.
- Enhanced immune response and disease resistance: 2-8 CCs have immunostimulatory effects that boost disease resistance, reducing the need for antibiotics.
- Improved gut health: 2-8 CCs improve gut health by enhancing intestinal villus structure, supporting beneficial gut microbes, and strengthening the intestinal barrier.
- Improved water quality: 2-8 CCs can regulate pH and water quality in aquaculture systems, acting as buffers and stabilizing pH levels.
- Feed preservation: 2-8 CCs exhibit antimicrobial and mold-inhibiting properties, making them valuable additives for feed preservation. These compounds create an unfavorable environment for microbial growth, ensuring the nutritional quality of aquaculture feed over a longer period.
Environmental benefits
Beyond their direct benefits to aquaculture organisms, 2-8 CCs offer several environmental advantages:
- Reduced antibiotic use: By enhancing the immune system and disease resistance of aquatic organisms, 2-8 CCs can significantly reduce antibiotic dependency in aquaculture, minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance and environmental contamination.
- Improved waste management: 2-8 CCs can contribute to better waste management practices by promoting organic matter decomposition and reducing the environmental impact of aquaculture effluents.
- Circular economy: Using 2-8 CCs can help develop a more circular economy within aquaculture systems, where waste products are effectively recycled and used as valuable resources.
Challenges and future directions
Despite their promising potential, the widespread application of carbon chain C2-C8 carboxylates in aquaculture faces several challenges:
- Optimization of dosage and application methods: Determining the optimal dosage and application methods of 2-8 CCs for different aquaculture species and environmental conditions remains an active area of research.
- Cost-effectiveness: Ensuring the cost-effectiveness of 2-8 CCs for aquaculture producers is crucial for their widespread adoption.
- Further research: Ongoing research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action of 2-8 CCs, explore their interactions with other aquaculture practices, and assess their long-term environmental and economic impacts.
Conclusion
The main conclusion of the study is that carbon chain C2-C8 carboxylates (2-8 CCs), including both short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), hold transformative potential in aquaculture due to their positive effects on performance, health, and sustainability.
Continuous research and development in this area are crucial to unlocking the full potential of these compounds and ensuring a sustainable future for global seafood production.
The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, the Ningbo Municipal Talent Office, and the K. C. Wong Magna Fund at Ningbo University.
Contact
Jorge Galindo-Villegas
Department of Genomics, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University
Bodø, Norway
Email: jorge.galindo-villegas@nord.no
Jiajie Xu
Microbial Development and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory, School of Marine Science, Ningbo University
Ningbo, China
Email: xujiajie@nbu.edu.cn
Reference (open access)
Gouife, M., Jiao, L., Kong, F., Ming, T., Saikaly, P., Galindo-Villegas, J., & Xu, J. (2025). A Review on the Role of 2–8 Carbon Chain Carboxylates in Enhancing Aquaculture Performance. Reviews in Aquaculture, 17(1), e13004. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.13004