Genetic parameters for survival during the grow‐out period in the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and correlated response to selection for harvest weight

The aims of this study were the estimation of genetic parameters for survival rate from tagging until harvest and the evaluation of the correlated response in survival rate to selection for harvest weight in the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain. The heritability for survival rate was low (0.038), and so was its genetic correlation with harvest weight (0.065), suggesting that selecting for the latter trait would have had no effect on survival. The calculation of the probability of survival by spawning season and line, fitting a model that included the random effects of individual animal and common environment, confirmed this prediction. There were very small and variable between line differences in the probability of survival, which generally favoured the selection line. We conclude that the focus of the GIFT programme on improving harvest weight was not detrimental to the survival of the fish during the grow‐out phase.     

Growth and fillet quality attributes of five genetic strains of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in a partial water reuse system and harvested at different sizes

Genetics and harvest size influence fish growth performance and product quality attributes, making selection of fish strain and harvest size critical for optimizing quality. Definition of performance and quality outcomes in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) environment may guide selection of fish stocks best suited for RAS farmers to meet production and product quality goals. Accordingly, five genetic lines of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss were reared to 3 kg in a partial water reuse system and sampled at common harvest sizes (0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kg) to compare growth performance and product quality attributes. Fish weight affected fish processing yields and cook yields. Genetic line affected fish weight. When correcting for fish size, differences in fillet yields due to genetic line were present. Both fish weight and genetic line affected different organ indices, fillet colour scores and mortality. Muscle composition and texture were similar at each harvest, but changed with increasing fish size over time. Differences in growth performance and product quality traits due to genetic line identify variation in available fish stocks, and balancing change to these traits due to fish size can guide producer selection of fish stocks and optimal harvest size to meet individual production goals.     

Growth and survival rate of three genetic groups fed 28% and 34% protein diets

The strain by nutrition interaction in body weight and survival rate was examined by testing three genetic groups (Selection and Control lines of the GIFT strain, and Red tilapia) at two levels of protein in the diet (28% and 34%). The GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been selected for high‐breeding values for body weight, whereas the Control was contemporaneously maintained and selected for breeding values of body weight close to the population mean. The Red tilapia (Oreochromis spp) was unselected at the time of the experiment. There were a total of 6000 fish at stocking in the study (2000 fish per genetic group). During the grow‐out period of 147 days, within each genetic group, the fish were randomly assigned to either a 28% or a 34% protein diet. Survival rate during grow‐out averaged 72%. A total of 4335 fish were harvested, with individual body measurements and survival recorded. The effect of genetic group accounted for the largest proportion of variation in body weight and survival, followed by sex and protein level. Across the two dietary protein levels, the GIFT strain had the highest growth. The difference in body weight between the Control and Red tilapia was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Responses in growth to dietary protein levels also differed between genetic groups. No differences (P > 0.05) in body weight were found in the GIFT selection and Control fish fed 28% or 34% protein diets. However, body weight of Red tilapia was greater in the high‐ than in the low‐protein diet. In contrast to body weight, survival rate from stocking to harvest was affected by protein level. The high‐protein diet significantly improved survival rate, averaging 24% across the three strains. The overall results indicate significant effects of genetic group and dietary protein level on both body weight and survival rate; however, the interaction between strain and dietary protein levels was small and possibly unimportant for these traits. It is concluded that the 28% protein diet used in the selection programme for the GIFT strain results in the selection of genotypes that can perform well under commercial feeds.     

Effect of triploidy on quality traits of shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.) until the second rearing year

Carcass and flesh morphometric, reological and chemical traits of triploid (3n) and diploid (2n) shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.) were evaluated through 7 months. Three age groups, 17‐, 21‐ and 24‐month‐old fish, were investigated. The effects of ploidy were statistically evaluated and the weight of fish was included in the model as a covariate because triploids grew less than diploids. As expected, fish weight was found to be significantly correlated with all the investigated morphometric traits, but showed a negative correlation with some chemical (pH) and colour traits (lightness) of raw fillet. In comparison with controls, triploid shi drums were characterized by different morphological traits that involved a slender body shape. In triploids, a reduction in condition factor, backbone weight, dressing index and an increase in the agility index were also recorded. When the commercial size (i.e. over 300 g) was achieved, triploids exhibited larger coelomatic and fillet (dorsal white muscle) fat deposition than diploids. Among reological traits, colour and texture were affected by ploidy; raw fillet lightness and cooked flesh tenderness were higher among triploids in all the investigated age groups. As fish were fed with a restricted feeding regimen, fillet fat deposition was supposed to be limited. Thus, the effects of ploidy on reological traits may be only partially explained by lipid fillet amount and are supposed to be more related to different fibre muscle architecture.     

吉富罗非鱼与奥利亚罗非鱼自繁与杂交 F1遗传特性与抗病力分析

以吉富罗非鱼与奥利亚罗非鱼为繁育亲本,采用完全双列杂交繁育4组F1,将初始规格基本一致的4组罗非鱼饲养100 d后,运用“加性-显性”遗传分析模型,分析了4组F1罗非鱼8个生长相关性状杂种优势、遗传效应以及与性状间的相关性.结果表明:(1)F1群体平均优势为0.129 4～0.368 4.除尾柄长超亲优势较大外,其他性状的群体超亲优势较小或表现出负向超亲优势.(2)8个性状的广义遗传率(HB)为0.714 2～0.995 3,表明加性效应和显性效应对性状的遗传变异影响极显著(P＜0.01).除尾柄长外,其他性状的狭义遗传率(HN)介于0.469 4～0.737 9,表明加性遗传方差在表型方差中所占比率较高.(3)体质量、全长、体长、体高、体宽、头长、尾柄长、尾柄高性状之间表型相关在0.776 6～0.999 7范围内,而遗传相关在0.994 1～1.000 0之间,表明这些性状间都存在极显著的正相关.取样结束后,采用3.95×106 CFU/mL的海豚链球菌菌液进行腹腔感染,吉富罗非鱼自繁组F1代12 h后出现死亡,而奥利亚罗非鱼自繁组F1192 h后才出现死亡.384 h后,吉富罗非鱼自繁组F1死亡率为40％,正反交组F1分别为20％和23.3％,奥利亚罗非鱼自繁组F1死亡率最低,为6.67％.研究结果表明,除尾柄长外,杂交F1的其他性状不具备超亲优势,然而杂交可以提高选育后代的抗病力.     

尼罗罗非鱼出肉率与可量性状的相关性

运用统计分析方法研究了吉富品系和埃及品系尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochro misniloticus)2龄成鱼雌、雄个体的出肉率和可量性状之间的相关性。结果显示,尼罗罗非鱼的平均出肉率为38.68%,雄性个体出肉率比雌性个体略高,吉富品系出肉率比埃及品系略高。尼罗罗非鱼出肉率与可量性状间存在较强的线性关系,拟合方程相关系数为0.985。在有显著意义的可量性状相关系数中(P0.01),与肉片质量和出肉率的相关性均最高的可量性状为体质量,相关系数分别为0.964和0.575;其次为体高、体长和体厚。而头长与肉片质量、出肉率均呈负相关关系。雄性个体的相关系数均高于雌性个体,在雄性个体中,出肉率与体质量的相关系数为0.630,与体高的相关系数为0.617,均为中等程度相关。对可量性状之间的比值与出肉率进行相关性分析,相关系数普遍比单个性状高,特别在雄性个体中表现明显。其中相关系数较高的比例组合有身长/头长比值(0.765)、体长/头长比值(0.732)、身长/体厚比值(0.703),均达到较强程度的相关,比单个性状的相关性有明显提高。结果表明,利用可量性状预测罗非鱼的出肉率是可行的。     

Genetic parameters and correlated responses in female reproductive traits in the GIFT strain

The effect of selection for greater growth rate in the GIFT strain on traits related to female reproduction (weight at spawning, number of eggs, number of fry, total weight of fry and number of dead fry) was studied. Available records comprised 10 generations of data from a total of 935 breeding females with known pedigree. Female body weight at spawning was 255 g, whereas the averages for number of eggs, number of live fry at hatching, number of dead fry and total fry weight per spawning were 1444, 908, 64.90, and 7.24 g respectively. Heritabilities for reproductive traits were low to moderate (0.20 for number of eggs, 0.16 for number of hatched fry and 0.11 for fry weight per female at spawning). The genetic correlations between female body weight at spawning and reproductive traits were very low to low (0.01 to 0.31) and not significantly different from zero. The genetic correlations among reproductive traits (i.e. number of eggs, number of hatched fry and fry weight) were high (0.75 to 0.92). Phenotypic correlations were consistent with the genetic correlations, ranging from 0.56 to 0.85. Correlated responses in reproductive traits measured as differences in least squares means between Selection and Control lines were positive and significant (except for the number of dead fry) when age of females at spawning was fitted as a covariate. However, there were no significant differences in all studied traits when body weight of the female at spawning was fitted as a covariate within lines. This indicates that the greater reproductive rate was due to the greater size of females in the Selection line, but the efficiency of reproduction per unit weight of female did not change as a consequence of selection for growth.     

Preslaughter stress and subsequent effect on flesh quality in farmed cod

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prehandling stress on the flesh quality of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). In order to stress the animal, water was reduced in the tank before a total of 30 fish were caught five at a time using a dipnet and held for 3 min, causing stress by hypoxia. This fish was compared with a control group (n=30) of fish exposed to anaesthetics directly in the tank. All fish were killed by a percussive blow to the head and exsanguinated and stored on ice before flesh quality was measured. Immediately after death and after ice storage for 3 and 8 days, 10 fish per group were measured for muscle pH, texture, fillet gaping, colour, drip loss and cathepsin D. Handling stress resulted in an initial increased fillet lightness, drip loss and decreased fillet shear force, although these differences did level off during ice storage. Stress caused by handling resulted in earlier onset of rigour mortis as compared with the control group, which reached maximum rigour tensions within 26 and 36 h postmortem respectively. We conclude that handling before harvest results in reduced time before entering rigour. After 8 days of ice storage, no effect of handling stress was seen on the muscle pH, flesh colour, fillet shear force, gaping score, drip loss or cathepsin D activity.     

Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations for growth and gonad traits in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

The present study is the first estimate for the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius, of genetic parameters for growth and gonad traits during the entire reproductive period. 2165–5764 sea urchins were sampled from 74 to 120 families at six different growth stages. Six hundred individuals were sampled from 20 randomly chosen families at harvest. Coefficients of variation for most growth and gonad traits were high (18.08–78.66%) suggesting a good variation foundation for breeding. Point estimate for heritabilities based on the sire components of variance were moderate to high for test height (0.24–0.39), test diameter (0.21–0.48) and body weight (0.16–0.49). Heritabilities of gonad wet weight, gonad index and gonad moisture at harvest were 0.17, 0.41 and 0.50 respectively (moderate or high). Gonad colour parameters, L^* (lightness) and a^* (redness) have a heritability of 0, while b^* (yellowness) and colour difference ΔE₁ and ΔE₂ have very similar heritabilities of 0.2, 0.18 and 0.21 respectively. Heritabilities of β‐carotene concentration and content were 0.89 and 0.44 respectively. The genetic correlations between the two measured traits ranged from ?0.984 to 0.999. Gonad wet weight, L^*, b^*, β‐carotene concentration and β‐carotene content had significant positive genetic correlations with all the growth traits. However, gonad index, gonad moisture and colour differences ΔE₁ and ΔE₂ had significant negative genetic correlations with growth traits. The present study indicates that growth, gonad yield and most gonad quality traits could be improved by selection with moderate to high potential. Indirect selection should be applied on gonad traits using growth traits as secondary traits. The present study provides important theoretical guidance for future selective breeding programmes for S. intermedius.     

Genetic covariation in production traits of sub-adult black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri after grow-out

Predicting the suitability and reliability of traits associated with juvenile growth as indirect selection criteria for choosing future broodstock requires accurate and repeatable estimates of genetic (co)variation for growth traits at different ages. We compared juvenile wet weight of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) at 6 months of age with wet weight, dressed weight, fillet yield and gonad weight in tagged individuals at 18 months of age, following 12 months of farm grow‐out. Fish survival and tag retention was high, and there was significant among‐family variation for all traits. The phenotypic correlations among wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months of age were very high (0.93–0.97) and similar to their genetic correlations (0.96). Importantly, the phenotypic correlations between wet weight at 6 months and wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months were high (0.63–0.65), and so too were their genetic correlations (0.66–0.73), indicating the potential for using wet weight in the hatchery as a selection criterion for improved weight and meat yield of fish at harvest. Gonad weight shared little or no phenotypic or genetic correlation with these other traits, suggesting that selection for faster growing fish will not affect fecundity or sexual maturation rate. It appears, however, that cultured black bream do become sexually mature more rapidly than wild fish, as 78% of all fish harvested in this study had developing or mature gonads, whereas less than 50% of fish in wild populations are reproductively mature by the same age. Precocious sexual development may lead to uncontrolled spawning in grow‐out ponds and a potential loss of selection gains.     

Performance of genetically improved Nile tilapia compared with red hybrid tilapia fed diets containing two protein levels

A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the interaction between tilapia genotype and dietary protein level on the growth, feed utilization efficiency and body composition of Nile tilapia [Oreochromis niloticus L., F₉ generation of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain] and red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Two isoenergetic diets (15.5 kJ g⁻¹ diet) containing 25% or 35% crude protein were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of tilapia (12.8±0.2 g) at a fixed daily ration of 4% of their body weight. The growth performance of the GIFT tilapia fed 25% or 35% dietary protein was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with red tilapia at either protein level. Increasing the dietary protein level by 10% led to a further 10% increase in the final weight of GIFT tilapia but no further increase was observed in the weight gain of red tilapia. Growth was influenced by the interaction between diet and tilapia genotype. Feed conversion ratios were 14% and 33% better in GIFT tilapia compared with red tilapia fed the 25% or 35% protein diet respectively. Protein efficiency ratio and net protein utilization were influenced by both diet and tilapia genotype, but not the interaction between the two. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein did not differ significantly between the two diets and tilapia genotypes but lipid digestibility was 1.2–4.7% higher for the GIFT tilapia. Tilapia whole‐body protein content was significantly influenced by both diet and tilapia genotype. The higher growth potential, better feed utilization efficiency and higher body protein content of GIFT tilapia compared with red tilapia should have a positive impact on tilapia farming in terms of production costs.     

Growth performance of mixed sex, hormonally sex reversed and progeny of YY male tilapia of the GIFT strain, Oreochromis niloticus

The growth performance of three experimental groups consisting of mixed sex fish (control), hormone-treated fish and progeny of YY male tilapia, all originated from the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain was evaluated. Masculinization of sexually undifferentiated fry was achieved by providing a supplement of 5 mg of 17-α-methyltestosterone per kg of feed over a period of 21 days (after sac absorption). Both mixed sex and progeny of YY male groups were fed a standard commercial ration. Mixed sex fish did not deviate significantly ( P >0.05) from the 1:1 male to female ratio. Percentages of male averaged 75% in hormone-treated fish and 95% in YY male group over the sampling periods and at final harvest. The effect of sex on weight and length was statistically significant ( P <0.001). The model used to analyse weight and length included experimental group and sex in each culture period as the fixed effects, and replicate cages as the random effect. Over the culture period of 141 days, there were no statistical differences ( P >0.05) in body weight and length between mixed sex, hormonally treated and progeny of YY males. There were also no significant differences in level of variability in harvest weight between three groups of fish when the data were classified into five categories (=<100, 100 to <150, 150 to <200, 200 to <250 and ≥250 g). It is concluded that monosex culture of all male tilapia would be of no advantage over mixed sex culture for the GIFT strain under conditions of cages suspended in earthen ponds.     

3种品系尼罗罗非鱼生长及高密度胁迫后生理响应变化的比较

以‘吉富’、‘新吉富’、‘埃及尼罗’3种不同品系尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)为研究对象, 通过不同品系之间生长与高密度胁迫反应的比较, 探讨3种尼罗罗非鱼的生长特点与应激后生理响应的变化规律。将初始规格基本一致的3种品系尼罗罗非鱼饲养100 d后, 吉富罗非鱼特定生长率最高, 新吉富其次, 两者间无显著差异(P>0.05), 埃及尼罗罗非鱼特定生长率显著低于吉富罗非鱼(P<0.05)。吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的内脏比显著高于埃及尼罗(P<0.05); 3种尼罗罗非鱼的肥满度之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。养殖实验结束后, 进行48 h的急性高密度(100 g/L)应激实验。应激48 h内, 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼血清总蛋白、葡萄糖、谷草转氨酶、胆固醇与溶菌酶活力/水平以及肝HSP70mRNA水平呈先上升后下降的变化。应激48 h后, 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清皮质醇水平与应激前相比无显著差异(P>0.05), 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的皮质醇水平显著高于应激前(P<0.05); 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清溶菌酶活力与肝HSP70 mRNA水平在应激后48 h内始终高于应激前(P<0.05)。研究结果表明, 短期高密度胁迫可提高3种尼罗罗非鱼血清葡萄糖与甘油三酯的利用, 并诱发肝损伤。埃及尼罗罗非鱼的抗高密度应激能力高于吉富和新吉富罗非鱼。

     

Seasonal changes in muscle structure and flesh quality of 0+ and 1+ Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): impact of feeding regime and possible roles of ghrelin

Growth performance, muscle cellularity, flesh quality, and plasma ghrelin were investigated in 0+ and 1+ farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from 40 g to 4.3 kg. Reduced meal frequency was introduced in both smolt groups from ~1.5 kg; one meal per second day (<5 °C) to one daily meal (>5 °C), while control groups were fed one to three daily meals. Results show that 0+ salmon had higher final fibre number and density, pigment content, red colour intensity, firmer flesh, and lower fillet fat content than 1+ salmon at 4.3 kg, affected by season and smolt type. Muscle fibre recruitment was an important determinant of fillet firmness and colour, possibly influenced by the prenatal temperature regime. Fish fed reduced meal frequency showed temporal reduced feeding ration, but growth performance was not compromised in any smolt groups at harvest. However, fillet fat, gaping, and colour decreased by less frequent feeding, with permanent effects in 1+ salmon for gaping and fat. Reduced meal frequency is therefore considered to be a promising tool for managing important flesh quality attributes in salmon without compromising growth performance. It is also suggested that ghrelin stimulates short‐term appetite, and perhaps also in the longer term.     

Genetic improvement of Israeli blue (Jordan) tilapia,Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner), through selective breeding for harvest weight

Genetic parameters and selection responses were obtained for harvest body weight of blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) from data collected over three generations in a selected population. A total of 18 194 records representing 186 sires and 201 dams were used in the analysis. Within generation heritability estimates for harvest body weight ranged from 0.18 to 0.58. When data from more than one generation were included in the analysis, heritability estimates became more stable (0.33–0.40) and it was 0.33 when all data were included in the analysis. The common full‐sib effect accounted for 10% of the phenotypic variance in the full data set. Heritability for survival from stocking to harvest was estimated at 0.01 and 0.09 in actual units (fitting an animal model) and in the logit (sire model) scale respectively. The genetic correlation between harvest body weight and survival was 0.22 and not significantly different from zero. The total selection response for harvest body weight over the three generations of selection measured as the difference between least‐squares means of selected and control lines was 17.7%. The corresponding figure when response was measured as the difference between mean breeding values of selected and control lines was 19.6%. The average inbreeding coefficient was 0.003 after three generations of selection. These results indicate that there are good prospects for the genetic improvement of harvest body weight in blue tilapia.     

Quality Characteristics of Fresh Rainbow Trout as Perceived by the Danish Processing Industry

The views of Danish processors were sought in an attempt to identify criteria considered important for fresh pan-sized rainbow trout Onchorhynchus mykiss. Principle component regression (PCR) analysis, carried out on the survey data revealed that two components accounted for 55% of the parameter variance. The first component, describing morphometric characteristics, explained 33% of variance and the second, describing skin appearance, explained 22% of the variance. A significant correlation (P < 0.001) was obtained between fillet colour and fillet colour appeal, with preference for white flesh in fish fed unpigmented feed.     

Flesh quality improvement in fish through breeding

In salmonids, which are fat fish, phenotypic and genetic parameters in flesh quality traits have been studied in several investigations while little has been done in other fish species. For traits like fat percentage, area of fat depot, and flesh colour in salmonids, relatively large genetic variation has been found. There is an unfavourable genetic correlation between body weight and the traits fat percentage and area of fat depot. The expected response to selection in quality traits, considering single trait selection, varies between 5 and 15% per generation. Quality traits can usually be recorded only on dead animals, and therefore family selection mush be practised in a breeding programme.     

The influence of anaerobic muscle activity,maturation and season on the flesh quality of farmed turbot

In order to test seasonal, rearing, maturing and anaerobic muscle activity effect on the flesh quality of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) a total of 80 farmed turbot from three different strains from reared under natural or continuous light were killed by a percussive blow to the head in November (winter, Icelandic strain), March (spring, Portuguese strain) and June (summer, domesticated strain (France turbot)). To test the effect of anaerobic muscle activity, 10 fish were on each occasion pre rigor filleted, where one fillet was used as a control, while the other fillet was electrically stimulated using a squared 5 Hz, 10 V pulsed DC for 3 min. All pre rigor fillets were measured for pH, weighed, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in polystyrene boxes with ice. After 7 days of storage the fillets were measured instrumentally for pH, drip loss, colour (CIE L* a* b*) and texture properties such as hardness and shear force, while fillet shrinkage and colour (RBG) were evaluated with computer imaging on photographs from a standard lightbox. Results showed that softness of the flesh was mainly influenced by factors associated with growth, such as season, photoperiod and maturation. Anaerobic muscle activity simulated with electrical stimulation caused an increase in drip loss (<1%) and loss of shear force (<4%), but had no effect on hardness or fillet shrinkage. Computer imaging revealed that muscle contractions related to the electrical stimulus forced out blood from the fillet causing less reddishness for the entire storage period. We conclude that a pH drop upon slaughter associated with anaerobic muscle activity has a minor effect on the flesh quality in the short run, while seasonal/alternatively genetic effects are predominant.     

吉富罗非鱼家系选育3代后形态性状变异及其对体质量的影响

以吉富罗非鱼引进群体(P)及其家系选育第三代(F3)为实验对象, 测定了群体的体质量(Y)、体长(X1)、体宽(X2)、体高(X3)4个性状, 通过相关分析、通径分析和回归分析, 计算相关系数、通径系数和决定系数, 建立多元回归方程, 对P和F3间形态性状及其对体质量的影响程度进行对比分析。结果显示: 1) 与亲本相比, F3体质量、体长、体宽和体高4项指标都有显著提高, 同时变异系数有一定下降, 体型趋于一致, 其中雌性变化较大。2) F3较P 3项形态性状指标对体质量影响最大者均由体高×体长变为体长。3) 与P相比, F3体长、体宽和体高3项形态性状对体质量的影响力有所下降。     

Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations for body composition traits and G × E interactions, in gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.)

In this study, heritabilities for body composition traits, their genetic correlations with growth traits and the genotype–environment interaction (G × E) were estimated at 509 days (harvest size) for the first time in gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.), from the offspring in two different production systems (cages and tanks) in the Canary Islands. A total of 867 offspring from an industrial mass-spawning of 66 broodstocks were analysed. Parental assignment showed a total of 89 full-sib families (between 1 and 53 descendents per family) and was inferred using the RimA multiplex PCR designed by Navarro et al. (2008) [Navarro, A., Badilla, R., Zamorano, M.J., Pasamontes, V., Hildebrandt, S., Sánchez, J.J., Afonso, J.M., 2008. Development of two new microsatellite multiplex PCRs for three sparid species: gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus L.) and redbanded seabream (P. auriga, Valenciennes, 1843) and their application to paternity studies. Aquaculture 285, 30–37.] with 100% success. The G × E interaction was analysed in 61 families present in the two environments and was null for visceral fat and it cannot be excluded for flesh composition traits. The heritability for visceral fat, expressed as a percentage of body weight, was 0.50 ± 0.07. The heritabilities for flesh composition traits, expressed as a percentage of fresh muscle weight, were 0.05 ± 0.03 for fat, 0.09 ± 0.03 for moisture, 0.08 ± 0.03 for ash and 0.02 ± 0.01 for collagen. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body composition traits were mainly low–medium, except for moisture vs. muscular fat (− 0.98 and −0.61, respectively), moisture vs. collagen (0.85 and 0.45, respectively), collagen vs. muscular fat (− 0.80 and −0.35, respectively), and dressing percentage vs. visceral fat (− 0.92 and −0.51 respectively). Genetic correlations between body composition traits and growth traits were low for weight and length except with collagen for which they were high, and, in general, they were medium–high for condition factor. All these phenotypic correlations were low. These data suggest that selection through growth would improve flesh texture, but could decrease muscular fat in the long term. The latter trait could be improved by selection through moisture which is the flesh composition trait with the highest heritability and is the easiest to measure. The data also suggest that the inclusion of visceral fat percentage in a selection programme would thwart the negative effect of fat concentrated in the visceral cavity and increase the dressing percentage.