Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
This professional diploma prepares you to design and evaluate more sustainable aquaculture feeds. You will study the nutritional requirements of fish and crustaceans, the reliance on fishmeal and fish oil and alternative raw materials: plant proteins, insect meal, microalgae, single-cell protein and by-products, and learn to formulate least-cost diets, manufacture them by extrusion and assess their environmental footprint.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds?
This professional diploma prepares you to design and evaluate more sustainable aquaculture feeds. You will master the protein, energy, lipid and micronutrient requirements of fish and crustaceans, explain the use of fishmeal and fish oil and their dependency indicators, compare the nutritional value, availability and limitations of plant proteins, insect meal, microalgae, single-cell protein and by-products, formulate least-cost diets, understand extrusion, quality control and storage, and measure efficiency and environmental footprint with feed conversion ratios and life cycle assessment tools.
What sets this diploma apart: applied nutrition, from the requirements of each species to the final formula; the ingredients of the future, covering insects, microalgae, single-cell protein and by-products; real formulation work with least-cost formulation software; measurable sustainability, with fish dependency indicators and life cycle assessment; and a case study in which you formulate a sustainable feed for a specific species.
Program highlights
- Applied nutrition: from the requirements of each species to the final formula.
- Ingredients of the future: insects, microalgae, single-cell protein and by-products.
- Real formulation: work with least-cost formulation software.
- Measurable sustainability: fish dependency indicators and life cycle assessment.
- Manufacturing and quality: extrusion, water stability and feed hygiene.
- Case study: formulating a sustainable feed for a specific species.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fish and crustacean nutrition
- 1.1. Digestive physiology of fish
- 1.2. Protein and amino acid requirements
- 1.3. Energy and metabolism
- 1.4. Lipids and essential fatty acids
- 1.5. Carbohydrates in carnivorous and omnivorous species
- 1.6. Vitamins and minerals
- 1.7. Crustacean nutrition
- 1.8. Requirements by life stage
Fishmeal and fish oil
- 2.1. Global production of fishmeal and fish oil
- 2.2. Small pelagic fisheries
- 2.3. Use of trimmings and by-products
- 2.4. Fish dependency indices
- 2.5. Certification of marine raw materials
- 2.6. Price volatility
- 2.7. Long-chain omega-3
- 2.8. Limits of substitution
Plant ingredients
- 3.1. Soya and protein concentrates
- 3.2. Pea, rapeseed and other legumes
- 3.3. Gluten and cereals
- 3.4. Vegetable oils
- 3.5. Anti-nutritional factors
- 3.6. Effects on gut health
- 3.7. Deforestation and sourcing risk
- 3.8. Soya certification
Novel ingredients
- 4.1. Insect meal
- 4.2. Microalgae and algal oil
- 4.3. Single-cell protein from bacteria and yeasts
- 4.4. Macroalgae in feeds
- 4.5. Processed animal by-products
- 4.6. Krill and alternative marine resources
- 4.7. Authorization of novel feed ingredients
- 4.8. Availability and scale
Feed formulation
- 5.1. Principles of formulation
- 5.2. Ingredient composition matrices
- 5.3. Least-cost formulation
- 5.4. Ingredient digestibility
- 5.5. Functional additives
- 5.6. Palatability
- 5.7. Feeds for early life stages
- 5.8. Formulation software
Manufacturing and quality
- 6.1. Grinding and mixing
- 6.2. Extrusion
- 6.3. Oil coating
- 6.4. Water stability
- 6.5. Physico-chemical quality control
- 6.6. Mycotoxins and contaminants
- 6.7. Storage and preservation
- 6.8. Feed hygiene regulations
On-farm feeding and sustainability
- 7.1. Feeding strategies
- 7.2. Feed conversion ratio
- 7.3. Feed losses and waste
- 7.4. Water quality and nutrients
- 7.5. Life cycle assessment of feeds
- 7.6. Carbon footprint
- 7.7. ASC feed standards
- 7.8. Communicating sustainability
Case study: formulating a sustainable feed
- 8.1. Selecting the species and life stage
- 8.2. Defining nutritional requirements
- 8.3. Selecting ingredients
- 8.4. Formulating the diet
- 8.5. Comparison with a conventional diet
- 8.6. Cost analysis
- 8.7. Sustainability assessment
- 8.8. Presentation of the case
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds
It depends on the species and life stage. Inclusion has been greatly reduced in several species, but total substitution still faces nutritional and economic limits.
Yes. You practice least-cost formulation with ingredient matrices and formulation tools.
Yes. Its nutritional value, production scale and authorization as a feed ingredient are studied, alongside microalgae and single-cell protein.
Yes. The nutritional requirements of crustaceans such as shrimp are covered.
You formulate a sustainable feed for a specific species and compare it with a conventional diet in terms of cost and environmental impact.
Fully online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each, ending with a case study in which you apply what you have learned to a complete feed formulation.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: a degree in biology, veterinary science, marine sciences, agricultural engineering, food science and technology or a related field, or professional experience in aquaculture or feed manufacturing.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.