Organic waste impact of capture-based Atlantic bluefin tuna aquaculture at an exposed site in the Mediterranean Sea

A variety of pelagic and benthic parameters were measured at an aquaculture farm used for the fattening of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) which is located at an exposed site (700 m from the coast, average bottom depth of 45 m and average current speed of 6 cm s⁻¹) in the Mediterranean Sea. The objective was to test whether modern off-shore tuna fattening industries can exert a sustainable organic waste impact on the receiving environment as has been reported for the offshore culture of more traditional Mediterranean species such as sparids. In the water column, the concentration of phytopigments, organic matter, heterotrophic bacteria and the taxonomic abundance of mesozooplankton (at the species level) were assessed. In the sediment, we assessed the concentration of reduced sulphur pools, phytopigments, organic matter, heterotrophic bacteria and the taxonomic abundance of meiofauna (at the taxa level) and nematodes (at the genus level). For most parameters, we found no substantial differences between farm and control sites. Deviations of farm values from control values, when they occurred, were small and did not indicate any significant impact on either the pelagic and benthic environment. Deviations were more apparent in the benthic compartment where lower redox potential values, higher bacterial production rates and a change in nematode genus composition pointed out to early changes in the sediment's metabolism. In addition, indigenous potential pathogenic bacteria showed higher concentration at the fish farm stations and were a warning of an undesirable event that may become established following aquaculture practice in oligotrophic environments. The overall data from this study provide extensive experimental evidence to support the sustainability of modern offshore farming technology in minimizing the hypertrophic-dystrophic risks associated with the rapidly-expanding tuna-fattening industry in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Estimating the Irish public's willingness to pay for more sustainable salmon produced by integrated multi-trophic aquaculture

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) has been put forward as a potential sustainable alternative to single fin fish species aquaculture. In IMTA, several species are combined in the production process. Integrating species has a conceivable dual advantage; the environmental impact can be lowered through nutrient cycling and from an economic perspective there is potential for increased efficiency, product diversification and a higher willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly produced salmon. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment which examines whether the Irish public is willing to pay a premium for “sustainably produced” farmed salmon from an IMTA process. Uniquely, an ecolabel was used in the design, based on familiar energy rating labels, to communicate the environmental pressure of fish farming to respondents. The experiment demonstrates that the Irish public has a willingness to pay a price premium for sustainability in salmon farming and for locally produced salmon.     

Effects of stocking density on the growth and immunity of Atlantic salmon salmo salar reared in recirculating aquaculture system(RAS)

Atlantic salmon reared in recirculating aquaculture system(RAS) may lead to inappropriately high stocking density, because ?sh live in a limited space. Finding the suitable stocking density of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS is very important for RAS industry. In this paper, the in?uence of stocking density on growth and some stress related physiological factors were investigated to evaluate the ef fects of stocking density. The ?sh were reared for 220 days at ?ve densities(A: 24 kg/m^3; B: 21 kg/m^3; C: 15 kg/m^3; D: 9 kg/m^3 and E: 6 kg/m^3). The results show that 30 kg/m^3 might be the maximum density which RAS can af ford in China. The stocking densities under 30 kg/m^3 have no ef fect on mortality of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS. However, the speci?c growth rate(SGR), ?nal weight and weight gain in the high density group were signi?cantly lower than the lower density groups and middle density groups. Moreover, feed conversion rate(FCR) had a negative correlation with density. Plasma hormone T_3 and GH showed signi?cant decrease with the increase of the stocking density of the experiment. Furthermore, thyroid hormone(T 3), GH(growth hormone) activities were decreased with stocking density increase. However, plasma cortisol, GOT(glutamic oxalacetic transaminase) and GPT(glutamic pyruvic transaminase) activities were increase with stocking density increase. And the stocking density has no ef fects on plasma lysozyme of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS. These investigations would also help devise effcient ways to rear adult Atlantic salmon in China and may, in a way, help spread salmon mariculture in China.     

贝藻混养对大西洋鲑养殖废水的生物滤除

养殖废水的综合利用与无公害化处理排放是实现水产养殖业健康可持续发展的重要保障。作者采用太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)及龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)混养和单养的方式处理大西洋鲑工业化循环水养殖系统排放的废水,设置贝类组、藻类组、贝藻组3组处理,探讨了贝藻混养方式和贝类、藻类单养对废水中主要水质因子(N、P营养盐、化学需氧量(COD)和总悬浮颗粒物(TSS))的处理效率,实验周期为30 d。结果表明,牡蛎和龙须菜混养的方式处理养殖废水效果较好,其对氮、磷营养盐、COD及TSS的去除效率分别为:总氨态氮41.67%±8.82%、硝酸盐氮33.96%±0.34%、总磷7.18%±0.03%、COD 78.87%±1.82%和TSS 70.50%±1.65%,而亚硝酸盐氮出现一定的积累。综合分析,牡蛎和龙须菜混养的方式处理养殖废水的效率优于牡蛎和龙须菜的单独处理。     

脂肪和蛋白质营养对封闭循环水养殖大西洋鲑生长和肌肉品质的效应

为探讨饲料脂肪和蛋白质营养对工业化养殖大西洋鲑(Salmon salar L.)生长性能和肌肉品质的影响, 采用3×2双因素试验设计(3脂肪水平: 18%、21%、24%, 即F18、F21、F24; 2蛋白质水平: 38%、48%,即P38、P48),形成6种试验处理膨化颗粒配合饲料,每处理3重复, 通过在工业化封闭循环海水养殖条件下,选用初质量(650.0±45.50)g大西洋鲑720尾,进行动物饲喂试验、肌肉脂肪酸、氨基酸测试等,试验期56d。结果表明: (1)中脂肪水平(F21)和高蛋白水平(P48)饲料的生长性能较佳。增质量率随脂肪水平提高先增加后降低,中高脂肪组比低脂肪组极显著提高43.5%(P＜0.01);高蛋白组极显著提高44.99%(P<0.01);中脂肪高蛋白组合(P48F21)效应最佳;(2)脂肪水平对肌肉氨基酸含量影响不显著。蛋白水平与肌肉9种必需、4种风味氨基酸含量呈正相关,高蛋白组显著提高3.60%～17.00%(P<0.05/0.01);(3)脂肪水平与肌肉不饱和脂肪酸含量呈正相关,而蛋白水平与其呈负相关,高脂肪(P24)和低蛋白(P38)有利于提高肌肉不饱和脂肪酸含量。高脂肪组肌肉Σω-3PUFA、ΣHUFA、DHA、EPA含量比低脂肪组分别极显著或显著提高15.74%、26.60%、15.41%、7.67%(P<0.01/0.05);低蛋白组极显著提高肌肉DHA含量11.91%(P＜0.01)、EPA 10.02%(P＜0.05);低蛋白中高脂肪组合(P38F21、P38F24)效应佳。本试验研究证明,工业化工业化封闭循环水养殖大西洋鲑对脂肪营养需求有一定程度降低,本试验条件下中高脂肪与中低蛋白组合既利于提高生长性能,又增加肌肉ω-3HUFA和主要氨基酸沉积,为工业化养殖大西洋鲑的肉质改善型配合饲料研制提供了重要依据。