Effects of Partial Replacement of Fish Meal Protein by Microalgae on Growth, Feed Intake, and Body Composition of Atlantic Cod

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile Atlantic cod Gadus morhua (initial mean weight, 40.7 g) in which a combination of dried Nannochloropsis sp. and Isochrysis sp. replaced fish meal protein in isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets. Three experimental diets (55% protein, 16.5% fat; calculated gross energy = 5,328 kcal/kg) were formulated to replace 0, 15, or 30% of dietary fish meal protein. At the conclusion of the 84-d study, no differences in survival, feed conversion ratios, viscerosomatic indices, and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the muscle were found among the treatment groups. Feed intake and growth, which were proportional to the level of algal incorporation, were significantly reduced in the algae-fed fish and were probably due to palatability problems. Feed intake improved in the fish fed the diet with 15% fish meal protein replacement as the study progressed, but hepatosomatic indices indicate that those fed the diet with 30% replacement were approaching starvation.

Publication Date

2-16-2011

Journal Title

North American Journal of Aquaculture

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/15222055.2010.549030

Scientific Contribution Number

2445

Document Type

Article

Rights

©American Fisheries Society 2011

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