The concomitant replacement of fish meal and fish oil in carnivorous marine fish feeds by more sustainable terrestrial alternatives is problematic due to the limited capability of marine fish to synthesize physiological essential long chain n-3 and n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) from shorter chain fatty acid precursors present in some vegetable oils. This two-year study will employ sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) as a model marine finfish to systematically investigate the potential of fully replacing the added fish oil component of a typical low fishmeal feed suitable for marine aquaculture. The focus of the proposed study will be on the effects of replacing fish oil in sablefish diets with sustainable lipid sources on diet utilization and growth. In particular, the overall goals of the proposed research are the following: 1. Determine the ability of sablefish to synthesize essential HUFAs from shorter chain fatty acid precursors. 2. Explore the effects of supplementing alternative vegetable oil feeds with novel sources of essential fatty acids on growth and nutrient utilization. 3. Evaluate the feasibility of using these novel oils in practical feeds. Data obtained in these studies will further our understanding of sablefish nutrition and set the stage for future research on the effects of sustainable feed ingredients on product quality, fish health, and the reproductive potential of cultured broodstock programs. This research specifically addresses a priority of the 2008 National Marine Aquaculture Initiative, which is nutrition research involving alternative protein based diets and the influence of diet on product quality. Whole fish proximate composition.

The concomitant replacement of fish meal and fish oil in carnivorous marine fish feeds by more sustainable terrestrial alternatives is problematic due to the limited capability of marine fish to synthesize physiological essential long chain n-3 and n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) from shorter chain fatty acid precursors present in some vegetable oils. This two-year study will employ sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) as a model marine finfish to systematically investigate the potential of fully replacing the added fish oil component of a typical low fishmeal feed suitable for marine aquaculture. The focus of the proposed study will be on the effects of replacing fish oil in sablefish diets with sustainable lipid sources on diet utilization and growth. In particular, the overall goals of the proposed research are the following: 1. Determine the ability of sablefish to synthesize essential HUFAs from shorter chain fatty acid precursors. 2. Explore the effects of supplementing alternative vegetable oil feeds with novel sources of essential fatty acids on growth and nutrient utilization. 3. Evaluate the feasibility of using these novel oils in practical feeds. Data obtained in these studies will further our understanding of sablefish nutrition and set the stage for future research on the effects of sustainable feed ingredients on product quality, fish health, and the reproductive potential of cultured broodstock programs. This research specifically addresses a priority of the 2008 National Marine Aquaculture Initiative, which is nutrition research involving alternative protein based diets and the influence of diet on product quality. Fatty acid profiles.

Our experience with juvenile sablefish and long term rearing of broodstock indicate that salmon grower feeds currently used by commercial sablefish farmers for grow out are not optimally formulated to support maximum growth and efficient feed conversion. However, there are no published studies examining the effects of dietary nutrient balance on productive performance and growth at any post larval life-history stage for this species, and there are currently no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish in the marketplace. Because of the large impact of feed cost on the economic viability of farming sablefish, we are focusing on grow out diets intended for use during the post larval stages of development when the fish are being reared to harvest size. In this research, we use a novel statistical mixture model and response surface analysis method to determine the optimal level of dietary protein, lipid and digestible carbohydrate for testing. This approach permits simultaneous testing of diet formulations encompassing the full range of protein, lipid and digestible carbohydrate that can be produced commercially using today’s most advanced extrusion feed manufacturing technology. Fish in experiments may be PIT tagged and regularly checked for growth in length and weight.

Feed costs and time to harvest are key factors affecting the economic viability of domestic sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture. Use of fast growing all-female monosex stocks dramatically reduces time to harvest, but our research to date indicates that the commercial salmon feeds typically used by industry are not optimally formulated for sablefish and there is still a high degree of potential for improved growth and feed conversion. The effects of dietary balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate on productive performance, growth and feed conversion at any post-juvenile stage of development are unknown, and there are no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish aquaculture in the marketplace. Dietary nutrient imbalances combined with inappropriate feeding schedules and strategies contribute to poor nutrient utilization and are unlikely to fully support the growth potential of this species, impeding continued efforts to improve performance during grow-out to harvest. Thus, research activity focuses on establishing performance optimized diets and feeding strategies that support maximum growth, efficient feed conversion and other economically important traits such as fillet yield. Fish in experiments are often PIT tagged and regularly checked for growth in fork length and body weight.

Feed costs and time to harvest are key factors affecting the economic viability of domestic sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture. Use of fast growing all-female monosex stocks dramatically reduces time to harvest, but our research to date indicates that the commercial salmon feeds typically used by industry are not optimally formulated for sablefish and there is still a high degree of potential for improved growth and feed conversion. The effects of dietary balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate on productive performance, growth and feed conversion at any post-juvenile stage of development are unknown, and there are no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish aquaculture in the marketplace. Dietary nutrient imbalances combined with inappropriate feeding schedules and strategies contribute to poor nutrient utilization and are unlikely to fully support the growth potential of this species, impeding continued efforts to improve performance during grow-out to harvest. Thus, research activity focuses on establishing performance optimized diets and feeding strategies that support maximum growth, efficient feed conversion and other economically important traits such as fillet yield. Information on proximate composition of fish and tissues and aqua feeds and of feed constituents and selected fish tissues.

Our experience with juvenile sablefish and long term rearing of broodstock indicate that salmon grower feeds currently used by commercial sablefish farmers for grow out are not optimally formulated to support maximum growth and efficient feed conversion. However, there are no published studies examining the effects of dietary nutrient balance on productive performance and growth at any post larval life-history stage for this species, and there are currently no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish in the marketplace. Because of the large impact of feed cost on the economic viability of farming sablefish, we are focusing on grow out diets intended for use during the post larval stages of development when the fish are being reared to harvest size. In this research, we use a novel statistical mixture model and response surface analysis method to determine the optimal level of dietary protein, lipid and digestible carbohydrate for testing. This approach permits simultaneous testing of diet formulations encompassing the full range of protein, lipid and digestible carbohydrate that can be produced commercially using today’s most advanced extrusion feed manufacturing technology. Raw data on rearing densities, tanks, water temperature, mortalities, ration and feed size may be available.

Feed costs and time to harvest are key factors affecting the economic viability of domestic sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture. Use of fast growing all-female monosex stocks dramatically reduces time to harvest, but our research to date indicates that the commercial salmon feeds typically used by industry are not optimally formulated for sablefish and there is still a high degree of potential for improved growth and feed conversion. The effects of dietary balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate on productive performance, growth and feed conversion at any post-juvenile stage of development are unknown, and there are no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish aquaculture in the marketplace. Dietary nutrient imbalances combined with inappropriate feeding schedules and strategies contribute to poor nutrient utilization and are unlikely to fully support the growth potential of this species, impeding continued efforts to improve performance during grow-out to harvest. Thus, research activity focuses on establishing performance optimized diets and feeding strategies that support maximum growth, efficient feed conversion and other economically important traits such as fillet yield. Informaion on tissues collected and physiological measures (e.g., plasma steroid levels) may be available.

Feed costs and time to harvest are key factors affecting the economic viability of domestic sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture. Use of fast growing all-female monosex stocks dramatically reduces time to harvest, but our research to date indicates that the commercial salmon feeds typically used by industry are not optimally formulated for sablefish and there is still a high degree of potential for improved growth and feed conversion. The effects of dietary balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate on productive performance, growth and feed conversion at any post-juvenile stage of development are unknown, and there are no commercial diets specifically formulated for sablefish aquaculture in the marketplace. Dietary nutrient imbalances combined with inappropriate feeding schedules and strategies contribute to poor nutrient utilization and are unlikely to fully support the growth potential of this species, impeding continued efforts to improve performance during grow-out to harvest. Thus, research activity focuses on establishing performance optimized diets and feeding strategies that support maximum growth, efficient feed conversion and other economically important traits such as fillet yield. Raw data on rearing densities, tanks, water temperature, mortalities, ration and feed size may be available.

Limited amounts of forage fish are available as an ingredient in feeds for the expanding aquaculture industry. Work is being conducted on a variety of underutilized materials to provide new sources of protein, oils, and minerals for fish feeds. These materials include invasive species such as carp and mussels, waste from fish and clam processing, and process waste from fish farms. Successful utilization of these materials adds needed protein and marine oils to the growing aquaculture industry, and eliminates the environmental impact of landfill or dumping at sea of these waste streams. Proximate analysis and solubility of new materials.

There is increasing global awareness of the need for sustainable aquaculture. Aquaculture represents a potential mechanism for supplementing wild fish harvests, either through stocking of cultured animals or farming to market size. In the first case, stocked animals would be available to sport and commercial fishermen. In the latter, consumer demand would be met directly with a farmed product, reducing pressure on wild stocks. By the year 2030, the global population is projected to reach 8.2 billion, with an expected demand for seafood of 150 million metric tons (mmt), 54 mmt of which the Food and Agriculture Organization (www.fao.org) estimates that aquaculture must contribute. Meanwhile in the U.S., an astounding 86% of the seafood consumed is imported ($9 billion annually), which makes seafood second only to oil as the largest natural resource contributor to our national trade deficit. There remains a great need for U.S. aquaculture production to fill the seafood void. Commercial-scale production of marine finfish in the U.S. is limited to a handful of species, however, including red drum, Pacific threadfin, cobia, cod, and flounder (excluding the anadromous Atlantic salmon), and production is often inconsistent. On the U.S. West Coast, many native marine species represent good potential candidates for aquaculture. Most of these, such as California sheephead, California halibut, cabezon, lingcod, white seabass, and rockfishes, are fully or over-exploited by capture fisheries. Other high-value species like California yellowtail and yellowfin tuna are transitory, with apparently healthy populations, but based on success elsewhere in the world, are believed to offer excellent potential for commercial aquaculture development in the U.S. A major step in the creation of a viable and profitable marine aquaculture industry lies in developing reliable fingerling production, and central to this is understanding the variables that determine egg and larval quality. The lack of knowledge in what optimizes egg and larval quality is an important limiting factor in developing culture techniques for any species (Kjorsvik et al. 1990; Bromage 1995). Inconsistent or poor egg quality significantly affects the production and viability of larval and juvenile fish. In the absence of high-quality eggs, it is not possible to optimize husbandry practices because larval performance is substandard under typical culture conditions, such as high stocking densities, aggressive weaning regimes, and grading or other handling procedures. Unfortunately, identifying simple indicators of egg quality has been difficult as no individual metric is universally applicable within and among species. This proposal seeks to identify easy-to-use indictors, as well as determine pre- and post-spawning factors that affect egg quality, in up to three very different ecologically and economically valuable marine fish species native to the U.S. West Coast: a highly-pelagic finfish, the California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi; CYT); a deep-sea whitefish, the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria; SF); and/or a semi-resident benthic flatfish species, the California halibut (Paralichthys californicus; CH). All three species are multiple batch spawners, producing large numbers of eggs several times over the course of a spawning season. Defining the differences between high and low quality eggs and documenting correlations between quality and different conditions (e.g. broodstock diet, age, domestication status, spawning methods, or progression through the spawning season) will directly impact the success of culturing species like these. If inferior batches of eggs can be identified early on, culturists would have a valuable tool, which would significantly advance mariculture development along the U.S. West Coast and elsewhere by leading toward consistent fingerling production of species with great potential for culture. Fatty acid profiles of marine fish egg lipids.