BioMar launches functional feed for sea bass
Aquafeed producer BioMar has launched SmartCare Defence, a new functional feed solution designed to support sea bass health and reduce mortality linked to bacterial infections during high-risk periods in Mediterranean farming.
The Danish company said bacterial diseases remain one of the most significant challenges for sea bass production, with the seasonality of outbreaks well known.
It added that while vaccination strategies have improved control against certain pathogens, bacterial outbreaks caused by species within genera such as Photobacterium, Vibrio and Aeromonas continue to drive losses at farm level. At the same time, the sector is moving towards reduced reliance on medicated feeds, increasing the need for nutritional tools that support the fish’s natural defences.
Five years of work
SmartCare Defence is the result of more than five years of research and development, combining controlled laboratory trials with large-scale commercial validation. The solution is part of BioMar’s SmartCare program, which focuses on functional nutrition strategies tailored to specific production challenges.
“The goal was to develop a feed solution that works with the fish’s own defence mechanisms, rather than reacting once problems occur,” Elena Planas, a veterinarian at BioMar, said in a press release. “SmartCare Defence is designed to be used proactively, particularly ahead of periods when bacterial pressure is known to increase.”
According to BioMar, the concept behind SmartCare Defence is built on a functional package of ingredients with optimised micro-nutrients, formulated to reduce bacterial growth, and support intestinal integrity and immune function.
Challenge trials
Controlled challenge trials with Photobacterium damselae piscicida demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality, with fish fed SmartCare Defence showing an improvement of up to 32% in relative percent survival compared to conventional diets. These results were consistently confirmed under commercial farming conditions, where overall mortality was reduced during periods of elevated disease pressure.
“It's a new tool for an improved comprehensive health management,” said Bruno Noguerra, product manager at BioMar. “Seeing comparable survival benefits in both controlled trials and real production environments gives farmers confidence that this is a practical, reliable tool they can integrate into their health management strategies.”
Further scientific evaluation included gene expression analyses in key organs such as the intestine and kidney, confirming positive effects on intestinal integrity and immune-related pathways.
