Post‐release mortality of angled golden perch Macquaria ambigua and Murray cod Maccullochella peelii

Abstract Short‐term (≤4 days) post‐release mortalities of two large, culturally and ecologically important Australian freshwater teleosts golden perch Macquaria ambigua (Richardson) and Murray cod Maccullochella peelii (Mitchell) were investigated. There was no angler‐induced mortality among golden perch that were immediately released in winter and spring, but 24% of this species and 15% of Murray cod died after delayed release in summer. Significant predictors of mortality were limited to times caught and total length for golden perch, and restraint methods and recovery times for Murray cod, but other parameters were also implicated as cumulative influences. The estimated mortalities may be sufficient to produce population‐level impacts for these two long‐lived species but could be considerably reduced through revisions of tournament regulations.     

Murray cod an apex predator in the Murray River, Australia

Abstract –  To determine if the Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii is an apex predator in the lowland rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, its feeding ecology was compared with that of the sympatric top predator, golden perch Macquaria ambigua ambigua based on samples supplied by recreational anglers. Diet and prey size were reconstructed from alimentary tract contents of Murray cod ( N  = 39) and golden perch ( N  = 52), and their feeding morphology was assessed and included calculation of length–gape relationships and relative gut index. Both species fed principally on fish and decapods although Murray cod was the more piscivorous (frequency of occurrence 44% versus 6%, total number 50% versus 2%, total weight 90.4% versus 16.0%). Based on reconstructions of prey sizes, fishes up to 1 kg in weight were preyed on by Murray cod, distinguishing it from other top predatory fishes in the Murray-Darling Basin and supporting its classification as an apex predator.     

Changes in proximate and amino acid composition during early development of two Australian Percichthyid fish, Macquarie perch, Macquaria australasica Cuvier, and trout cod, Maccullochella macquarensis (Cuvier)

In the present paper, the results of a study on changes in the proximate and amino acid composition of the eggs and larvae of two Australian native Percichthyid fish, Macquarie perch, Macquaria australasica Cuvier, and trout cod, Maccullochella macquarensis (Cuvier), are presented. The stages of development studied were unfertilized and fertilized eggs, newly hatched larvae, and post-yolk-sac larvae (in Macquarie perch only). In Macquarie perch, significant changes in moisture content occurred throughout development, but this was not so in trout cod. The protein content (per cent dry weight) in Macquarie perch larvae only decreased significantly after hatching (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the total lipid (by dry weight) increased significantly during this transformation (P < 0.05), and decreased significantly in yolk-sac-resorbed larvae. In trout cod, the protein and lipid content did not change significantly up to hatching. The ash content increased significantly in newly hatched and yolk-sac-resorbed larvae of both species. The total amino acid contents of unfertilized eggs, fertilized eggs, newly hatched larvae and yolk-sac-resorbed larvae of Macquarie perch and trout cod were 5752, 4652, 3696 and 2723 μmol g^?1 (dry weight), and 4688. 3448 and 2329 μmol g^?1, respectively. In the amino acid pool in Macquarie perch, the essential amino acids (EAAs) leucine, isoleucine and valine, and the non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) alanine, aspargine and glutamate occurred in the greatest quantities in non-fertilized eggs, and the cysteine content was the smallest. In Macquarie perch, five out of nine EAAs (i.e. isoleucine, leucine, lysine, threonine and valine) and six out of eight NEAAs (i.e. alanine, asparagine, glutamate, glycine, proline and serine) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from one developmental stage to the other. In trout cod, all the EAAs, barring lysine and all the NEAAs decreased significantly with development.     

Dynamics of piscine francisellosis differs amongst tilapia species (Oreochromis spp.) in a controlled challenge with Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis

A 25‐week immersion challenge was conducted exposing Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreochromis aureus and Oreochromis urolepis hornorum to Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno). Two populations were compared for each fish species; ‘resident fish’ were defined as fish maintained in tanks since week 0 of challenge, whereas ‘naïve fish’ were defined as fish added to tanks once temperature in water reached <26 °C at 21 weeks post‐challenge. Fno genome equivalents (GEs) in water were similar in all treatments 1 h post‐challenge; however, significantly lower Fno GEs were detected 2 weeks post‐challenge in all tanks, and the only treatment with detectable Fno GE after 4 weeks of challenge were the O. mossambicus tanks. Twenty‐one weeks post‐challenge, naïve fish were stocked with ‘resident’ cohorts. Over a 4‐week period, mortalities occurred consistently only in O. mossambicus naïve cohorts. Overall presence of granulomas in spleen of survivors was similar (>55%) in all resident populations; however, in naïve populations, only O. mossambicus presented granulomas. Similarly, only O. mossambicus presented viable Fno in the spleen of survivors, and Fno GEs were only detected in O. mossambicus, and in resident O. aureus. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest different susceptibility of tilapia species to piscine francisellosis.     

Entrainment and impingement of juvenile silver perch,Bidyanus bidyanus,and golden perch,Macquaria ambigua,at a fish screen: effect of velocity and light

Entrainment and impingement of two non‐salmonid species susceptible to entrainment at irrigation diversions, silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell), and golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson), were examined at an experimental intake screen in a laboratory flume under a range of velocities and light levels. The presence of an intake screen significantly reduced entrainment, in some cases reducing mortality from over 90% (unscreened) to less than 2% (when screened). Although some differences in behaviour existed between species, approach velocities (measured 8 cm in front of the screen) up to 0.4 m s^?1 effectively reduced entrainment, with very little injury or mortality resulting from incidental screen contacts or impingement. Both species used visual cues to negotiate the screen face, thereby increasing their ability to avoid contact at higher velocities. In the absence of these visual cues, positive rheotactic behaviour was enhanced and fish mostly avoided approaching the screen. These results demonstrate that fish screens operated at approach velocities of up to 0.4 m s^?1 have great potential for the protection of silver perch and golden perch juveniles at irrigation intakes.     

Yersiniosis in Atlantic cod,Gadus morhua (L.), characterization of the infective strain and host reactions

A disease outbreak in farmed Atlantic cod caused by Yersinia ruckeri is reported. Mortality started following vaccination of cod reared in two tanks (A and B). The accumulated mortality reached 1.9% in A and 4.8% in B in the following 30 days when treatment with oxytetracycline was applied. Biochemical and molecular analysis of Y. ruckeri isolates from the cod and other fish species from fresh and marine waters in Iceland revealed a high salinity‐tolerant subgroup of Y. ruckeri serotype O1. Infected fish showed clinical signs comparable with those of Y. ruckeri ‐infected salmonids, with the exception of granuloma formations in infected cod tissues, which is a known response of cod to bacterial infections. Immunohistological examination showed Y. ruckeri antigens in the core of granulomas and the involvement of immune parameters that indicates a strong association between complement and lysozyme killing of bacteria. Experimental infection of cod with a cod isolate induced disease, and the calculated LD₅₀ was 1.7 × 10⁴ CFU per fish. The results suggest that yersiniosis can be spread between populations of freshwater and marine fish. Treatment of infected cod with antibiotic did not eliminate the infection, which can be explained by the immune response of cod producing prolonged granulomatous infection.     

Ca. Branchiomonas cysticola,Ca. Piscichlamydia salmonis and Salmon Gill Pox Virus transmit horizontally in Atlantic salmon held in fresh water

Elucidation of the role of infectious agents putatively involved in gill disease is commonly hampered by the lack of culture systems for these organisms. In this study, a farmed population of Atlantic salmon pre‐smolts, displaying proliferative gill disease with associated Candidatus Branchiomonas cysticola, Ca. Piscichlamydia salmonis and Atlantic salmon gill pox virus (SGPV) infections, was identified. A subpopulation of the diseased fish was used as a source of waterborne infection towards a population of naïve Atlantic salmon pre‐smolts. Ca. B. cysticola infection became established in exposed naïve fish at high prevalence within the first month of exposure and the bacterial load increased over the study period. Ca. P. salmonis and SGPV infections were identified only at low prevalence in exposed fish during the trial. Although clinically healthy, at termination of the trial the exposed, naïve fish displayed histologically visible pathological changes typified by epithelial hyperplasia and subepithelial inflammation with associated bacterial inclusions, confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization to contain Ca. B. cysticola. The results strongly suggest that Ca. B. cysticola infections transmit directly from fish to fish and that the bacterium is directly associated with the pathological changes observed in the exposed, previously naïve fish.     

Can water disinfection prevent the transmission of infectious koi herpesvirus to naïve carp? – a case report

Hygienic measures such as disinfection are important tools for the maintenance of fish health in aquaculture. While little information is available on the disinfection of water intended for fish containment, Huwa‐San^®, a disinfectant used in food and water industries, was used for daily treatment at concentrations of approximately 60 ppm over a total period of 3 months (experiment 1) with a 3‐week treatment‐free interval after 2 months (experiment 2). During this period, koi herpesvirus (KHV) was added to the water of two aquaria, one used as a normal contact control, the other one receiving daily water disinfectant treatments that prevented KHV infection of carp. In the second experiment, Huwa‐San^® treatment was interrupted and KHV infection was prevalent. However, when naïve fish were introduced to the same aquarium after re‐application of disinfectant, KHV could not be detected in those naïve fish. Whilst KHV could not be detected in samples where disinfectant had been applied, it was present in samples of naïve fish cohabiting with infection contact control animals which had undergone no disinfectant treatment over experiments 1 and 2. The results presented here show that water treatment with a disinfectant may prevent transmission of infectious KHV to naïve carp cohabited with infected carp.     

Seasonal differences in the diel movements of Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) in an upland reservoir

Knowledge of the movement patterns of threatened fishes aids their conservation management and informs sustainable development of natural resources including freshwater. Prior to the expansion of a temperate upland reservoir in Australia, we used radio telemetry to compare seasonal differences in the diel movements of adult endangered Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) (235–414 mm total length) in Cotter Reservoir, Australian Capital Territory. Macquarie perch exhibited a diel range of 389 ± 46 m, a diel mobility of 769 ± 93 m and diel area use of 24008 ± 5595 m² among four seasons. Diel range was significantly higher in winter compared with other seasons, and diel mobility was negatively correlated with fish size among four seasons. Macquarie perch inhabited deeper water in summer across the diel cycle (7.2 ± 0.5 m) in comparison with other seasons (spring: 3.8 ± 0.3 m, autumn: 3.0 ± 0.2 m, winter: 3.0 ± 0.3 m). Within seasons, both remote and manual telemetry identified that diel activity was predominantly crepuscular. Prey availability and the threat of avian predation represent the most likely explanations for the differences in seasonal movements. In a reservoir where expansion will likely result in a loss of critical habitat (emergent macrophytes) for this endangered species, we use site‐specific knowledge of the spatial ecology of Macquarie perch to inform the placement of shelter habitat prior to filling the enlarged reservoir.     

Efficacy of bath and orally administered praziquantel and fenbendazole against Lepidotrema bidyana Murray,a monogenean parasite of silver perch,Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell)

We investigated the efficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) and fenbendazole (FBZ), each administered by bath and orally, against the monogenean Lepidotrema bidyana Murray, a gill parasite of the freshwater fish silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). PZQ and FBZ were each administered by bath at 10 mg L^?1 for 48 h and on surface‐coated feed pellets at 75 mg kg^?1 per body weight (BW) per day for 6 days. Bath treatments of PZQ and FBZ had an efficacy of 99% and 91%, respectively, against adult L. bidyana. Oral treatments of PZQ and FBZ had an efficacy of 79% and 95%, respectively, against adult L. bidyana. Fish rejected feed pellets surface‐coated with PZQ, suggesting that palatability of surface‐coated PZQ‐medicated feed is poor, which undermined efficacy. In all trials, some juvenile parasites were present on fish after treatment during efficacy assessment, indicating that efficacy may be lower against juvenile parasites or that recruitment occurred post‐treatment, demonstrating that repeat treatments are necessary to effectively control L. bidyana in aquaculture.     

Systemic infection in European perch with thermoadapted virulent Aeromonas salmonicida (Perca fluviatilis)

In non‐salmonid fish, Aeromonas salmonicidacan cause local infections with severe skin ulcerations, known as atypical furunculosis. In this study, we present a systemic infection by a virulent A. salmonicidain European perch (Perca fluviatilis).This infection was diagnosed in a Swiss warm water recirculation aquaculture system. The isolate of A.  salmonicida encodes a type three secretion system (TTSS) most likely located on a plasmid similar to pAsa5/pASvirA, which is known to specify one of the main virulence attributes of the species A. salmonicida. However, the genes specifying the TTSS of the perch isolate show a higher temperature tolerance than strains isolated from cold‐water fish. The function of the TTSS in virulence was verified in a cytotoxicity test using bluegill fry and epithelioma papulosum cyprinid cells.     

Riverine spawning,long distance larval drift,and floodplain recruitment of a pelagophilic fish: A case study of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the arid Darling River,Australia

1. Pelagic spawning riverine fish (pelagophils) spawn in free‐flowing river habitats with downstream drift of eggs and larvae but the spatial scale is often unknown, and this constitutes a major ecological knowledge gap.
2. In the arid Darling River in south‐eastern Australia, the present objectives were: (i) to determine the potential downstream dispersal distance of young golden perch (Macquaria ambigua); and (ii) to evaluate whether provision of environmental water enhanced dispersal of young fish from Menindee Lakes to the lower Darling River (LDR) while also cueing further spawning in downstream lotic reaches.
3. Golden perch spawned in unregulated lotic tributaries on a flood pulse and larvae drifted or dispersed >1,600 km downstream and entered large ephemeral productive floodplain lake nursery habitats as fully scaled fingerlings.
4. Planned releases of environmental water cued golden perch spawning in the LDR and enabled juvenile fish to disperse downstream from the Menindee Lakes nursery into receiving populations in the LDR, Great Darling Anabranch, and southern Murray River, with some fish potentially completing an active migration of >2,100 km by age 1 year.
5. The Darling River case study highlights the need for a system‐scale approach to the conservation management of pelagophilic fish, along with multi‐year perennial flow strategies to improve ecosystem integrity in large rivers globally.

     

Osmoregulatory balance in Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell), affected with chronic ulcerative dermatopathy

This study examined the osmoregulatory capability of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, affected by chronic ulcerative dermatopathy (CUD) in intensive aquaculture. This condition appears to arise only in facilities utilizing groundwater, with the causative agent suggested to be a water-borne factor. Healthy Murray cod (~ 700 g) were transferred to a CUD-affected farm to monitor the progression of the syndrome and began to show signs of CUD after approximately five months. In order to evaluate possible effects of CUD on osmoregulation; plasma electrolyte concentrations, osmolality, and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities were measured, and gill histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed. Plasma electrolyte concentrations and osmolality of CUD-affected Murray cod were consistent with reference values determined for non CUD-affected fish. A greater number of gill mucous cells were observed in Murray cod cultured at the CUD-affected farm compared to non CUD-affected fish. We also found an un-identified cell type that was present solely in the gills of CUD-affected Murray cod. Gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was significantly higher in severely CUD-affected Murray cod compared to individuals transferred to the CUD-affected farm. While there appeared to be some minor changes in the gills of CUD-affected fish, this study demonstrated that Murray cod were able to effectively osmoregulate, although, perhaps at an energetic cost.     

Aeromonas salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes

Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (hereafter A. salmonicida) is the aetiological agent of furunculosis in marine and freshwater fish. Once A. salmonicida invade the fish host through skin, gut or gills, it spreads and colonizes the head kidney, liver, spleen and brain. A. salmonicida infects leucocytes and exhibits an extracellular phase in the blood of the host; however, it is unknown whether A. salmonicida have an intraerythrocytic phase. Here, we evaluate whether A. salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo. A. salmonicida did not kill primary S. salar erythrocytes, even in the presence of high bacterial loads, but A. salmonicida invaded the S. salar erythrocytes in the absence of evident haemolysis. Naïve Atlantic salmon smolts intraperitoneally infected with A. salmonicida showed bacteraemia 5 days post‐infection and the presence of intraerythrocytic A. salmonicida. Our results reveal a novel intraerythrocytic phase during A. salmonicida infection.     

Early ontogeny-related changes of the fatty acid composition in the Percichthyid fishes trout cod,Maccullochella macquariensis and Murray cod,M. peelii peelii

Changes in the fatty acid profiles of the Percichthyid fish trout cod, Maccullochella macquariensis (Cuvier), and Murray cod, M. peelii peelii (Mitchell), two Australian native freshwater fish species, were investigated during early development from egg to yolk-sac-resorbed larval stage. In the two Percichthyid fishes polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) accounted for more than 50 % of the 19 quantified fatty acids in total lipid. The fatty acids that occurred in the highest abundance in both trout cod and Murray cod, in all developmental stages, in order, were docosahexaenoic acid [DHA 22:6(n-3)], arachidonic acid [AA 20:4(n-6)], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)] and palmitic acid (16:0), all of which exceeded 100 μg per mg total lipid in most instances. The ratio of 22:6(n-3) to eicosapentaenoic acid- 20:5(n-3) in eggs of trout cod and Murray cod was 5.4:1 and 7.3:1, respectively, and remained almost unchanged through development, and was considerably higher than the 2:1 ratio generally reported for fish eggs. In trout cod, 11 of the 19 fatty acids in total lipid decreased during the transformation from egg to yolk-sac-resorbed larva. In Murray cod, only 16:1(n-7) showed a significant decrease whilst 20:4(n-6) increased significantly with development. Overall, there was a tendency in both species to conserve n-3 and n-6 series highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), suggesting their essentiality in first feeding larvae. These observations are discussed in relation to the feeding habits of trout cod and Murray cod, which are top order, freshwater carnivores.     

Evaluation of population decline and fishing sustainability of the endangered Australian freshwater fish Macquaria australasica

Abstract Macquarie perch, Macquaria australasica Cuvier, is an endangered Australian freshwater fish that has historically supported popular recreational fisheries, but since the 1980s, it has experienced a decline in both distribution and abundance. This study investigated whether a marked decline in the population size of Macquarie perch has occurred at Lake Dartmouth between the mid‐1980s and 2000 and the likelihood of the current legal minimum length (LML) of 350 mm TL protecting the population from recruitment overfishing. Recreational angler survey data showed strong evidence for a temporal population decline. Sampling of the population and construction of a simulation model indicated that the current LML would protect the population from recruitment overfishing. This study highlights the value of specifically investigating suspected threats to endangered fish populations to allow the instigation of effective fisheries management.     

A natural infection by the red sea bream iridovirus‐type Megalocytivirus in the golden mandarin fish Siniperca scherzeri

An outbreak of a Megalocytivirus infection was found in the golden mandarin fish Siniperca scherzeri during September and October 2016, in Korea. Phylogeny and genetic diversity based on the major capsid protein (MCP) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) genes showed a new strain. Designated as GMIV, this strain derived from the golden mandarin fish was suggested to belong to the red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV)‐subgroup I. Additionally, this train clustered with the ehime‐1 strain from red sea bream Pagrus major in Japan and was distinguished from circulating isolates (RSIV‐type subgroup II and turbot reddish body iridovirus [TRBIV] type) in Korea. The infection level, evaluated by qPCR, ranged from 8.18 × 10² to 7.95 × 10⁶ copies/mg of tissue individually, suggesting that the infected fish were in the disease‐transmitting stage. The diseased fish showed degenerative changes associated with cytomegaly in the spleen as general sign of Megalocytivirus infection. The results confirm that the RSIV‐type Megalocytivirus might have crossed the environmental and species barriers to cause widespread infection in freshwater fish.     

Effect of phytase supplementation of a plant‐based diet on phosphorus and nitrogen bioavailability in sea bream Sparus aurata

To assess to what extent addition of phytase to a plant‐based diet results in spatio‐temporal changes of phytate, available P, soluble protein, total amino acids and the activity of the main digestive proteases in gilthead sea bream, fish were fed two plant‐based diets with or without phytase. Stomach, proximal intestine and distal intestine contents were monitored for these parameters at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding. A reduction (P < 0.0001) of the soluble P–IP6 in the stomach when phytase was added to the diet was observed. Within stomach, most of the total P–IP6 was precipitated (86%), possibly due to the low acidification capacity of the sea bream (pH > 4), but 57% of the dietary P–IP6 was dephosphorylated, suggesting that phytase could have the capacity to dephosphorylate insoluble IP6 at such pH. An increment (60%) (P < 0.01) in total gastric protease activity was observed by phytase addition, this being the first demonstration of the in vivo effect of IP6 on the pepsin activity in fish stomach. Gastric pH and residence time of the digesta inside the stomach are critical factors for an efficient phytase action and improve P and N bioavailability in plant‐based diets used in fish aquaculture.     

The effect of dietary chitin on the autochthonous gut bacteria of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.)

In the present study the impact on autochthonous (adherent) bacteria in proximal intestine (PI) and distal intestine (DI) of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) was evaluated following feeding of a control diet and a diet supplemented with 5% chitin. The autochthonous gut bacteria were investigated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Analysis of the microbiota associated with PI and DI of Atlantic cod indicate that dietary chitin modulate the intestinal bacterial community. For example, band 25 ( Escherichia coli–like), band 14 ( Anaerorhabdus furcosa–like) and band 29 (uncultured bacterium–like) in PI were depressed by dietary chitin (P < 0.05). The number of bands (23.7 ± 5.4) in DI of fish fed chitin was marginally higher than the control fish (16.7 ± 2.1) (P = 0.065), and the relative abundances of band 6 (swine faecal bacterium–like) were marginally stimulated by dietary chitin (P = 0.095). Furthermore, the present study reports several novel sequences not previously reported in the gastrointestinal tract of Atlantic cod. Whether the dietary effect of chitin on gut bacterial community has any positive effect of fish health merits further investigations.     

Growth and nutrient utilization of Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) fingerlings fed diets with varying levels of soybean meal and blood meal

Abstract The Australian native freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii pellii (Mitchell), currently supports a fledgling inland aquaculture industry, which is thought to have considerable growth potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of two alternate protein sources [blood meal (BM) and defatted soybean meal (SBM)] as substitutes for fish meal at various levels of inclusion in diets for juvenile Murray cod. The growth performance of juvenile Murray cod in response to nine isonitrogenous and isocalorific diets (50% protein, 14% lipid, 20.2 kJ g^?1) consisting of a control diet in which protein was supplied from fish meal, and test diets in which the fish meal protein was substituted at levels of 8%, 16%, 24%, and 32% with BM or SBM was evaluated from a 70‐day growth experiment. The per cent apparent dry matter (% ADC_dm) and percentage protein digestibility (% ADC_p) of the test diets were also determined using Cr₂O₃ as a marker. Survival in all the SBM dietary treatments was high but that of fish on the BM dietary treatments was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in all the other dietary treatments. Specific growth rate (% day^?1) of Murray cod fed SBM incorporated diets ranged from 1.63 ±  0.06 to 1.78 ±  0.10 and even at the highest level tested (32% of the dietary protein from SBM) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the fish fed the control diet (1.65 ±  0.09). Feed conversion ratios of the SBM dietary treatments ranged from 1.36 ±  0.08 to 1.45 ±  0.07. The protein efficiency ratios and protein conversion efficiencies of Murray cod in the soybean meal treatments were also good and for a majority of the SBM diets were better than those for the control diet. Per cent ADC_dm and ADC_p of the SBM diets tested ranged from 70.6 ±  1.46 to 72.3 ±  1.81% and 88.6 ±  0.57 to 90.3 ±  0.17%, respectively, and was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the control diet (% ADC_dm 74.3 ±  1.63; % ADC_p 91.3 ±  0.55). The reasons for significantly poor survival and growth of Murray cod reared on BM incorporated diets, and relatively poor digestibility of these diets are discussed. The study shows that for Murray cod diets in which fish meal protein is substituted up to 32% performance or carcass composition is not compromised.