Microorganisms from Patagonian aquatic environments for use in aquaculture

Argentinean Patagonia is an extensive area scarcely explored from the microbiological point of view. Pristine and cold aquatic Patagonian environments as well as their fauna harbor a microbial diversity with interesting characteristics for application in aquaculture. This chapter presents the importance of aquaculture in recent decades and the problems associated with its fast and intensive development. We focus on Patagonian microorganisms and their products with potential application in aquaculture either as probiotics or as a source of specific nutritional components (i.e., astaxanthin). Thus, we analyze the probiotic characteristics of different bacteria from marine and freshwater environments. We also pay particular attention to antimicrobial agent production (i.e., bacteriocins) and adhesion properties of such strains. Moreover, we introduce Patagonian native yeasts as a promising natural source of astaxanthin and other valuable compounds for fish and crustacean aquaculture.