Sean Tibbetts

Roles and responsibilities

Senior Research Officer, Applied Animal Nutrition at the NRC-Marine Research Station
Laboratory Manager, Feed Production Facility and Nutritional Analytical Laboratory

Current research and/or projects

Highly experienced applied aquaculture nutrition scientist. I am particularly interested in studying how novel ingredients affect digestion and metabolism of essential nutrients and calories, influence growth performance and animal health and impact the environment. My research efforts are currently focussed on development and nutritional evaluation of novel aquafeed ingredients produced from low-trophic microorganisms (such as microalgae, cyanobacteria, fungal protists and bacteria) cultivated in ways that promote biocircularity and aquaculture sustainability. The majority of my work is in partnership with industry and academia and my lab also provides some revenue generating analytical services. Co-author of more than 50 publications including scientific articles, book chapters, technical reports, magazine articles and conference abstracts.

Education

PhD Aquaculture Nutrition, Wageningen University, Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Netherlands
MSc Animal Nutrition, Dalhousie University, Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Canada
BSc Hons. Animal Science, Dalhousie University, Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Canada

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University
Associate Editor (former), Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Aquaculture Association of Canada, Member
World Aquaculture Society, Member
Nova Scotian Institute of Science, Member and former council participant

Key publications

Books and book chapters

Acquah C., Tibbetts S.M., Pan S., Udenigwe C. (2020) Nutritional quality and bioactive properties of proteins and peptides from microalgae (chapter 19), In: Jacob-Lopes E., Maroneze M.M., Queiroz M.I., Zepka L.Q. (eds.), Handbook of Microalgae-Based Processes and Products: Fundamentals and Advances in Energy, Food, Feed, Fertilizer, and Bioactive Compounds, Elsevier Inc./Academic Press, pp. 493-531, ISBN: 978-0-12-818536-0.

Tibbetts S.M. (2018) The potential for ‘next-generation’, microalgae-based feed ingredients for salmonid aquaculture in context of the blue revolution (chapter 8), In: Jacob-Lopes E., Zepka L.Q., Queiroz M.I. (eds.), Microalgal Biotechnology, InTech Open Publishing, pp. 151-175, ISBN: 978-953-51-6024-3.

Lall S.P., Tibbetts S.M. (2009) Nutrition, feeding, and behaviour of fish, In: Hess L., Antinoff N. (eds.), Nutrition and behaviour of uncommon species (chapter 17), Veterinary Clinics of North America – Exotic Animal Practice 12, 361-372. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, PA, USA, pp 361-372, ISBN: 978-1-4377-0558-4.

Refereed journals

Colombo S.M., Roy K., Mraz J., Wan A.H.L., Davies S.J., Tibbetts S.M., Øverland M., Francis D.S., Rocker M.M., Gasco L., Spencer E., Metian M., Trushenski J.T., Turchini G.M. (2022) Toward achieving circularity and sustainability in feeds for farmed blue foods. Reviews in Aquaculture, doi:10.1111/raq.12766.

Ignatz E.H., Sandrelli R.M., Tibbetts S.M., Colombo S.M., Zanuzzo F.S., Loveless A.M., Parrish C.C., Rise M.L., Gamperl A.K. (2022) Influence of supplemental dietary cholesterol on growth performance, indices of stress, fillet pigmentation, and upper thermal tolerance of female triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Aquaculture Nutrition 2022, 6336060, doi:10.1155/2022/6336060.

Banskota A.H., Tibbetts S.M., Jones A., Stefanova R., Behnke J. (2022) Biochemical characterization and in vitro digestibility of protein isolates from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by-products for salmonid feed applications. Molecules 27, 4794, doi:10.3390/ molecules27154794.

Wei M., Parrish C.C., Guerra N.I., Tibbetts S.M., Colombo S.M. (2022) Dietary inclusion of a marine microalgae meal for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): Impact of Pavlova sp. 459 on growth performance and tissue lipid composition. Aquaculture 553, 738084.

Tibbetts S.M., Patelakis S.J.J. (2022) Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of intact-cell marine microalgae meal (Pavlova sp. 459) for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Aquaculture 546, 737236.

Wang Y., Tibbetts S.M., McGinn P.J. (2021) Microalgae as sources of high-quality protein for human food and protein supplements. Foods 10, 3002, doi:10.3390/foods10123002.

Salze G.P., Tibbetts S.M. (2021) Apparent digestibility coefficients of proximate nutrients and essential amino acids from a single-cell protein meal derived from Methylobacterium extorquens for pre-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Aquaculture Research 52, 6818-6823.

Wang Y., Tibbetts S.M., Berrue F., McGinn P.J., MacQuarrie S.P., Puttaswamy A., Patelakis S., Schmidt D., Melanson R., MacKenzie S.E. (2020) A rat study to evaluate the protein quality of three green microalgal species and the impact of mechanical cell wall disruption. Foods 9, doi:10.3390/foods9111531.

Lu J., Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Anderson D.M. (2020) Use of dietary oil, solvent-extracted meal and protein concentrate from Camelina sativa for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, at the early fry stage. Aquaculture 524, 735252.

Sayedin F., Kermanshahi-pour A., He Q.S., Tibbetts S.M., Lalonde C.G.E., Brar S.K. (2020) Microalgae cultivation in thin stillage anaerobic digestate for nutrient recovery and bioproduct production. Algal Research 47, 101867.

Tibbetts S.M., Scaife M.A., Armenta R.E. (2020) Apparent digestibility of proximate nutrients, energy and fatty acids in nutritionally-balanced diets with partial or complete replacement of dietary fish oil with microbial oil from a novel Schizochytrium sp. (T18) by juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Aquaculture 520, 735003.

Tibbetts S.M., Patelakis S.J.J., Whitney-Lalonde C.G., Garrison L.L., Wall C.L., MacQuarrie S.P. (2020) Nutrient composition and protein quality of microalgae meals produced from the marine prymnesiophyte Pavlova sp. 459 mass-cultivated in enclosed photobioreactors for potential use in salmonid aquafeeds. Journal of Applied Phycology 32, 299-318.

Lall S.P., Lewis-McCrea L.M., Tibbetts S.M. (2018) Growth, survival, and whole-body proximate and fatty acid composition of haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., postlarvae fed a practical microparticulate weaning diet. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 49, 83-95.

Tibbetts S.M., Mann J., Dumas A. (2017) Apparent digestibility of nutrients, energy, essential amino acids and fatty acids of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) diets containing whole-cell or cell-ruptured Chlorella vulgaris meals at five dietary inclusion levels. Aquaculture 481, 25-39.

Tibbetts S.M., Yasumaru F., Lemos D. (2017) In vitro prediction of digestible protein content of marine microalgae (Nannochloropsis granulata) meals for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Algal Research 21, 76-80.

Tibbetts S.M., Fredeen A.H. (2017) Nutritional evaluation of whole and lipid-extracted biomass of the microalga Scenedesmus sp. AMDD for animal feeds: Simulated ruminal fermentation and in vitro monogastric digestibility. Current Biotechnology 7, 264-272.

Fraser J.M., Collins S.A., Chen Z., Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Anderson D.M. (2017) Effects of dietary Camelina sativa products on digestible nutrient compositions for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture Nutrition 23, 973-982.

Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Lall S.P. (2016) Nutritional quality of some wild and cultivated seaweeds: Nutrient composition, total phenolic content and in vitro digestibility. Journal of Applied Phycology 28, 3575-3585.

Tibbetts S.M., MacPherson T., McGinn P.J., Fredeen A.H. (2016) In vitro digestion of microalgal biomass from freshwater species isolated in Alberta, Canada for monogastric and ruminant animal feed applications. Algal Research 19, 324-332.

Anele U.Y., Yang W.Z., McGinn P.J., Tibbetts S.M., McAllister T.A. (2016) Ruminal in vitro gas production, dry matter digestibility, methane abatement potential and fatty acid biohydrogenation of six species of microalgae. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 96, 353-362.

Tibbetts S.M., Melanson R.J., Park K.C., Banskota A.H., Stefanova R., McGinn P.J. (2015) Nutritional evaluation of whole and lipid-extracted biomass of the microalga Scenedesmus sp. AMDD isolated in Saskatchewan, Canada for animal feeds: Proximate, amino acid, fatty acid, carotenoid and elemental composition. Current Biotechnology 4, 530-546.

Tibbetts S.M., Whitney C.G., MacPherson M.J., Bhatti S., Banskota A.H., Stefanova R., McGinn P.J. (2015) Biochemical characterization of microalgal biomass from freshwater species isolated in Alberta, Canada for animal feed applications. Algal Research 11, 435-447.

Ganga R., Tibbetts S.M., Wall C.L., Plouffe D.A., Bryenton M.D., Peters A.R., Runighan C.D., Buchanan J.T., Lall S.P. (2015) Influence of feeding a high plant protein diet on growth and nutrient utilization to combined ‘all-fish’ growth-hormone transgenic diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Aquaculture 446, 272-282.

Tibbetts S.M., Bjornsson W.J., McGinn P.J. (2015) Biochemical composition and amino acid profiles of Nannochloropsis granulata algal biomass before and after supercritical fluid CO₂ extraction at two processing temperatures. Animal Feed Science and Technology 204, 62-71.

Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Lall S.P. (2015) Chemical composition and nutritional properties of freshwater and marine microalgal biomass cultured in photobioreactors. Journal of Applied Phycology 27, 1109-1119.

Tibbetts S.M., Wall C.L., Barbosa-Solomieu V., Bryenton M.D., Plouffe D.A., Buchanan J.T., Lall S.P. (2013) Effects of combined ‘all-fish’ growth hormone transgenics and triploidy on growth and nutrient utilization of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fed a practical grower diet of known composition. Aquaculture 406/407, 141-152.

Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P. (2013) Effect of dietary inclusion of Atlantic snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio and Northern pink shrimp, Pandalis borealis processing by-products on nutrient digestibility by juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L. Animal Feed Science and Technology 182, 126-130.

Colombo-Hixson S.M., Olsen R.E., Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P. (2013) Evaluation of Calanus finmarchicus copepod meal in practical diets for juvenile Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Aquaculture Nutrition 19, 687-700.

Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Ross N.W., Verreth J.A.J., Lall S.P. (2011) In vitro pH-Stat protein hydrolysis of feed ingredients for Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. 1. Development of the method. Aquaculture 319, 398-406.

Tibbetts S.M., Verreth J.A.J., Lall S.P. (2011) In vitro pH-Stat protein hydrolysis of feed ingredients for Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. 2. In vitro protein digestibility of common and alternative feed ingredients. Aquaculture 319, 407-416.

Tibbetts S.M., Olsen R.E., Lall S.P. (2011) Effects of partial or total replacement of fish meal with freeze-dried krill (Euphausia superba) on growth and nutrient utilization of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) fed the same practical diets. Aquaculture Nutrition 17, 287-303.

Kim J-D., Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Lall S.P. (2007) Effect of the incorporation level of dehulled soybean meal into test diet on apparent digestibility coefficients for protein and energy by juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L. Aquaculture 267, 308-314.

Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Lall S.P. (2006) Apparent protein and energy digestibility of common and alternative feed ingredients by Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758). Aquaculture 261, 1314-1327.

Kim J-D., Tibbetts S.M., Milley J.E., Lall S.P. (2006) Effect of the incorporation level of herring meal into test diet on apparent digestibility coefficients for protein and energy by juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L. Aquaculture 258, 479-486.

Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Milley J.E. (2005) Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels and DP DE^-1 ratio on growth, feed utilization and hepatosomatic index of juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L. Aquaculture Nutrition 11, 67-75.

Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Milley J.E. (2004) Apparent digestibility of common feed ingredients by juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L. Aquaculture Research 35, 643-651.

Lall S.P., Nanton D.A., Tibbetts S.M., Roy P.K., Milley J.E. (2003) Nutrient requirements and feeding of haddock. In: Early Rearing of Haddock: State of the Art (ed. by D.E. Aiken), pp. 79-86. Aquaculture Association of Canada, Special Publication Number 7.

Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Anderson D.M. (2001) Optimum dietary ratio of digestible protein and energy for juvenile American eel, Anguilla rostrata, fed practical diets. Aquaculture Nutrition 7, 213-220.

Tibbetts S.M., Lall S.P., Anderson D.M. (2000) Dietary protein requirement of juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata) fed practical diets. Aquaculture 186, 145-155.