International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research

Authors
Saif Al Ghais, Vibha Bhardwaj, Omar Al Shehhi

Abstract
Aquaculture pollution is a major concern among the entrepreneurs, farmers and researchers. Excess discharge of phosphorus and nitrogen into the water bodies is the principal pollutant responsible for this. Plant-based feed ingredients due to its high phytic acid content enhances both nitrogen and phosphorus discharge thereby increasing the pollution level. Dietary phytase treatment is probably the best answer to address this problem. Mozambique Tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) viscera were used for phytase extraction. Visceral extracts were prepared using water, KCl solution and EDTA homogenization. The extract with the highest phytase specific activities of 46.35 and 66.54 IU/mg protein, respectively. The enzyme was active at the optimum pH (7.0) and temperature (45°C) when sodium phytate was used as a substrate. The enzyme showed highest activity and purification when precipitated at 60-80% ammonium sulphate effectively improved specific activity of enzyme. Thus, the results revealed that active phytase enzymes could be prepared from tilapia viscera and could be attributed to better bio-availability of phosphorus and other minerals to fishes and improved protein digestibility in fishes. With the introduction of phytase in fish feed, fish nutritionists can formulate and produce a cheaper plant-based aqua feed. This will ultimately lead to profit maxi­mization of aquaculture enterprises.