Evaluation of body weight and color of cultured European catfish (Silurus glanis) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) using image analysis

Two cultured catfish species (European catfish Silurus glanis, and African catfish Clarias gariepinus) were evaluated for their weight estimation and colors by image analysis. A total of 60 whole fish from each species were first weighed, and then their pictures taken by a digital camera in a light box. Length, weight and color of all fish were determined by image analysis and results were compared between the two fish. Fish weight ranged from 7.4 to 39.61 g and 25.71 to 93.91 g for European and African catfish, respectively. Weight (W) vs length (L) data were fitted linear (W = A + BL), power (W = A L^B) and second order polynomial equations (W = C₀ + C₁ L + C₂ L²). The R² values ranged from 0.835 to 0.974. For the W vs view area (V) relationship, the same equations were used. The R² values for these equations ranged from 0.927 to 0.972. No significant difference was found between the average color values according to the L*, a* and b* distributions for both fish species (P > .05). Image analysis can easily determine length, view area, and color of fish and help in developing W vs L, and W vs V relationships.     

Prediction of the Weight of Aquacultured Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by Image Analysis

Prediction relationships between weight and image features were established with a high correlation for whole aquacultured rainbow trout. Three hundred fish from three different farms were used. The fish were temporarily removed from the raceway, anesthetized, and their picture was taken by a digital camera. A reference square of known surface area and color was placed beside the fish. The fish were then returned to the raceway alive. The image was analyzed, and the view area of the fish was calculated using the area of the reference square. The average color of the fish was also determined (L*, a*, and b* values). The following equations were used to fit the view area (X) vs. weight (Y) data: linear, power, and second order polynomial. The R² values for the used equations were: linear = 0.98; power = 0.99; polynomial = 0.98. Image analysis can be used reliably to predict the weight of whole aquacultured rainbow trout. In addition, color and other visual attributes can be objectively determined by image analysis to sort by visual quality.     

Novel method for improving the antioxidative properties of fish meat by direct injection of sodium l-ascorbate into the blood vessels of live fish

The color of the red muscle of pelagic fish is used as an indicator of freshness, and sustaining a bright red color is important for maintaining the commercial value of pelagic fish. Feeding fish with antioxidant compounds can delay metmyoglobin (metMb) formation, but the process requires long-term feeding. Live cultured Japanese horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus were used in this study. After anesthetization, 2 ml of blood was drawn from blood vessels, and a parenteral solution including an antioxidant compound was injected. Browning, metMb formation, and lipid oxidation of dark muscle during chilled storage were delayed by injecting sodium l-ascorbate as an antioxidant compound in the blood vessels of live fish.     

Postmortem Metabolic,Physicochemical, and Lipid Composition Changes in Litopenaeus vannamei in Response to Harvest Procedures

Ante-mortem stress is recognized as one of the factors that could reduce shelf life in fish, although this topic has been scarcely addressed in crustaceans, particularly in cultivated penaeid shrimp where common harvest practices involves stressful conditions such as chasing, emersion, and confinement. This study analyzes indices of freshness in shrimp in response to such practices before storage in ice for six days. During ice storage, several indicators follow the typical postmortem pattern, although most of them (hypoxanthine, change in pH, and color) did not reach critical levels at day 6. Adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP) and degradation products (adenosine monophosphate, AMP, and inosine monophosphate, IMP), as well as several indicators of freshness (pH, expressible water, hardness, color, and the overall fatty acid composition) were not significantly affected by harvest. Other variables such as lower springiness, higher hypoxanthine, lipid hydroperoxides, and 20:4n-6/20:5n-3 ratio were observed in shrimp subjected to common harvest practices. However, under the current conditions of harvesting, these effects were marginal and probably do not substantially affect meat quality for human consumption, but care should be taken at higher environmental temperatures (e.g. harvest in summer) and for a duration of ice-storage over 6 days.     

养殖大黄鱼冰藏流通的货架期试验

本文于2004年7月对养殖大黄鱼进行了冰藏流通货架期的试验研究，监测了实际流通全过程的鱼体温度和鲜度质量的变化。结果表明，大黄鱼冰藏流通过程的总体设计是合理的，但在夏季，鱼在捕获后的处理加工中没有得到及时的有效冷却，运输和流通中不使用冷藏车、冷藏库，不仅增加了用冰量，而且冰融化较快，大大缩短了冰藏大黄鱼的货架期，冰藏3d后再次在上层加覆盖细碎冰．鱼可保持高品质期4d，货架期5.75d。     

Influence of marketing and different land-based systems on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) quality

Seabream (Sparus aurata) production is growing in theMediterranean and the evaluation of its quality concerns both producers andconsumers alike. In this area, most of the sea bream culture is carried out incages but there is also production in land-based facilities. The culturesystem,and specifically its degree of intensity, greatly influences final productquality, through management during production, harvest and marketing processes.In this respect, land-based technology is more likely to affect final quality,both in a positive and in a negative way. In the present work the effects onseabream (Sparus aurata) of three inland culture systems arestudied. The quality of wild fish is also studied and taken as standard becauseit is the quality better known to the consumers. Different aspects related tobiometry, sensorial evaluation, degree of freshness (pH and water holdingcapacity) and chemical composition of muscle are assessed. The influence ofpost-harvest management on the sensorial quality of cultured and fishery caughtfish is also studied when they arrive at the market. According to the resultsall parameters, i.e. sensorial, freshness and biometric measures, show somesignificant differences according to the culture system. A super-intensiveculture system significantly affects the appearance of the fish, producing morecompact fish without the characteristic colour pattern of the species. Thefish cultured in two different semi-intensive systems show more similaritieswith the wild fish, both in colour and appearance. Some differences in thefreshness indices are also found, with the super-intensive cultured fish theones showing the lowest results. When evaluating the influence of post-harvestmanagement on semi-intensive cultured fish and wild fish, all freshness indicesexcept gills are affected, but both groups of fish tolerate the process in asimilar way.     

Effect of electrical stunning at slaughter on the carcass, flesh and eating quality of farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Food quality aspects of farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were compared following two methods of slaughter: the normal commercial method of killing, by immersion in an ice slurry, or by first electrically stunning the fish, before immersion in an ice slurry. Quality was assessed for up to 10 days of storage on ice after slaughter. No differences were found between the slaughter methods in terms of an overall sensory evaluation of cooked fillets, or in terms of overall carcass quality: overall appearance, internal and external haemorrhage, fin damage, burst gall bladder, staining of the body cavity by leakage from the gut or damage to the spine. Using objective measurements of colour, no differences between fish from either treatment were found in terms of external colour or colour of the fillets. A chemical analysis of flesh nucleotide breakdown products as well as the freshness indicator K_i value did not differentiate the two treatments nor did the industry standard freshness scoring technique (QIM, quality index method), over 10 days of storage on ice. Flesh pH was marginally lower in electrically stunned fish at 4 h post mortem (6.42 cf 6.56) but by 24 h, pH in fish from both treatments had decreased to a similar level (6.22). Humane electrical stunning of sea bass at slaughter neither measurably improved nor decreased product quality for between 1 and 10 days of storage on ice. Electrical stunning accelerated the pattern of onset and resolution of rigor mortis. If electrical stunning were to be widely adopted, re‐education of buyers would be necessary as rigor mortis is currently used by buyers as a proxy measure of fish freshness.     

Minimal water volume for intensively producing male Siamese fighting fish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betta splendens</Emphasis> Regan, 1910)

Water volume is a key parameter affecting the individual rearing of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910). In this study, minimization of water volume was pursued by assessing growth, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, color coordinates, muscle quality, and carcass composition. One-month-old solid-red male fish (0.97?±?0.01 g initial body weight) were distributed individually into glass aquaria with five alternative water volumes (100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mL), comprising 15 fish per treatment (n?=?15), over 8 weeks duration. No mortality of the reared fish was found during the study. Growth performance and feed utilization of the fish reared in 150 mL water were superior to the other treatments. The water volume significantly affected specific activities of the digestive enzymes (P ? 0.05), except for amylase, and no differences in enzyme activities were observed between fish reared in 150 and in 300 mL water. The preferred treatment maintained skin lightness (L*) and had the highest redness (a* and a*/b*) among the treatments. Protein synthesis (RNA concentration) and its turnover rate (RNA/protein ratio) and myosin and actin in muscle also benefited from this treatment. Carcass composition, in terms of moisture, crude protein, and crude ash, was maintained, but the amount of crude lipid fluctuated with water volume. Based on our experiments, the preferred minimal water volume for individual rearing of male Siamese fighting fish should be about 150 mL.     

Effect of Temperature and Alkaline pH on the Physicochemical Properties of the Protein Isolates Extracted from the Whole Ungutted Lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum)

The aim of this study was to evaluate functional properties of the protein extracted from lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum). Extraction of the fish protein was performed in alkaline pHs (10 and 12) followed by precipitation at its isoelectric pH. The effects of different extraction temperatures (0, 4, 11, 25, and 30°C) were also studied. The results showed that the protein recovery yield was higher when extracted at pH 12 compared to pH 10. Furthermore, some functional properties including water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, emulsifying capacity, foaming capacity, and solubility of the protein isolated at pH 12 were higher than that isolated at pH 10 (p < 0.05). The color evaluation (L*, a*, and b*) of the samples showed protein isolated at pH 12 was lighter (higher L*) than protein isolated at pH 10, but redness (a* value) declined in both samples. Evaluation of different extraction temperatures showed that protein recovery yield and functional properties were improved with increasing temperature. Fish protein isolate can be used in the formulation of value-added products because of their distinctive functional properties.     

Appraising the Shelf Life of Farmed Cobia,Rachycentron canadum,by Application of a Quality Index Method

Freshness is the main concern of seafood quality, and the principal method to evaluate seafood freshness is sensory evaluation. The aim of this work was to study the quality changes of cobia, Rachycentron canadum, under ice storage through sensory and physical analysis as well as bacterial counting of specific spoilage organisms (SSOs). In particular, the utilization of a quality index method (QIM) scheme was proposed. Samples stored for 0–30 d were analyzed with the QIM. Ten panelists observed and registered the changes occurring in the fish starting on day zero and ending when the fish were spoiled. After developing the scheme, 11 sensory attributes were described in 23 points, which detailed the appearance of skin, eyes, abdomen, gills, and flesh deterioration. The volatile nitrogen compound measurements and microbiological data of the SSOs determined a shelf‐life of 19 d for the samples. Sensory analysis showed a rejection point at 15.67 d of ice storage. The natural degradation of myofibrillar proteins and collagen was observed during ice storage. In conclusion, a shelf‐life of 15 d was defined for raw cobia stored on ice.     

Treatment of Microcotyle sp. (Monogenea) on the gills of cage-cultured red porgy,Pagrus pagrus following baths with formalin and mebendazole

Two bath treatment trials for the control of the monogenean Microcotyle sp. in the gills of cultured red porgy, Pagrus pagrus using formalin (200 ppm for 1 h) and mebendazole (400 ppm for 1 h) were conducted. Formalin was very effective removing all the parasites from the gills of the infected fish while mebendazole produced no significant result. Based on the results of the trial, formalin was selected for the treatment of a large population of heavily infected red porgies held in sea cages. The results of the treatment are discussed.     

Oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes activities in the African catfish,Clarias gariepinus,experimentally challenged with Escherichia coli and Vibrio fischeri

The impacts of bacterial infection on cultivated fish species, African catfish, were investigated using oxidative stress biomarkers [lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonylation] and the activities of important antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes [catalase and glutathione S-transferase (GST)]. Fish were inoculated via oral gavage with one of the following treatments: 1 × 10⁵ CFU/ml of Escherichia coli (EC1), 2 × 10⁵ CFU/ml of E. coli (EC2), 1 × 10⁵ CFU/ml of Vibrio fischeri (V1), 2 × 10⁵ CFU/ml of V. fischeri (V2), gavaged with distilled water and not gavaged. Fish were maintained in the laboratory for 7 days after the bacterial inoculation, and the levels of LPO, protein carbonylation, GST, and catalase activities were determined in the muscle, gills, and liver of fish. Fish inoculated with bacteria (either E. coli or V. fischeri) had a significant higher levels of tissue LPO, protein carbonylation, and GST activities in a tissue-specific pattern (liver > muscle > gills). This appears to be related with the levels of bacterial inoculation, with effects more pronounced in fish inoculated with either EC2 or V2. The catalase activity did not differ significantly between the inoculated and fish that were not inoculated. The results of this study indicate that bacterial inoculation could result in oxidative stress in fish, and liver has a higher rate of oxidative stress per mg tissue compared to the gills and the muscle.     

Gut contents of silver carp — Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.) — and some trophic relations to other fish species in a polyculture system

This work is a continuation of the studies conducted in the ponds of the Fish and Aquaculture Research Station, Dor, in 1975 concerning the components of fish feed under conditions of polyculture, with additional food and intensive fertilization.A study was made of the food eaten by the silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.), grown with or without supplementary food in ponds that had previously been used for storage of fish fed on pellets (ponds Types 1 and 3), or which had been kept dry for various periods of time (ponds Types 2 and 4).The special pattern of its gills, which are adapted to retain suspended organisms and particles of sizes less than 20 μm, enables the silver carp to filter enormous quantities of phytoplankton and organic particles.A comparative study was made of the trophic relations existing between Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.), Cyprinus carpio (L.) and Tilapia aurea Steindachner, which were the principal species in the polyculture system, and of the influence of the type of pond used on the growth of the fish.     

A convenient and nondestructive method using bio-impedance analysis to determine fish freshness during ice storage

Fish freshness can be assessed through K values, but this method has a number of limitations, including a complex procedure and destructive sampling. With the aim to develop a convenient method of assessing fish freshness, we measured the changes in K values (up to 40%) and bio-impedance (Z value; frequency 2, 5, 20, 50, 100 kHz) of ordinary muscle in fish of eight marine species, all caught in the East China Sea, during ice storage and examined their relationships. The results indicated that the K value in all fishes increased linearly with storage time, while their Z value decreased only after 24 h of storage. Moreover, after 24 h of storage and at K values of < 40%, impedance ratios at 2–100 kHz (C value, C?=?Z_{2 kHz}/Z_{100 kHz}) were significantly correlated (p ?<?0.05) with both storage time and K values in all fishes. These findings suggest that the bio-impedance ratio effectively reflects the change in ATP-related compounds of fish and that a convenient, nondestructive method using the C value can be used instead of the complicated K value measurement to assess the freshness of marine fishes after 24 h of ice storage.     

Selection experiments with salmon: III. Genetic and environmental sources of variation in length and weight of Atlantic salmon in the freshwater phase

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) brood stock were taken from 32 strains in Norway for 3 consecutive years. Each year, after fertilization, the offspring in each family from each strain were reared in separate egg trays and fingerling tanks. Individual weights and lengths were recorded on a sample of fish from each tank. Environmental and genetic factors influencing the growth rate were studied. The length and weight at a standardized age were significantly affected by hatching date and number of fish held in a tank. There was also a significant ‘tank effect’ which influenced the heritabilities estimated. Significant differences between strains were found for all three year-classes (P<0.01). The estimates of heritabilities found for different year-classes are very consistent. When ‘tank effect’ was removed the heritabilities estimated from the total material were 0.08 for weight and 0.12 for length calculated from the sire components of variance. Calculated from the dam components, the heritabilities were 0.15 for weight and 0.17 for length. The genetic correlation between length and weight estimated from the total material was 1.00. For the ‘trait’ condition factor there were no significant sire and dam components of variance when tank effect was removed.     

A simple, rapid method for gizzerosine analysis in fish meal by paper electrophoresis

We established a simple, rapid method for gizzerosine analysis in fish meal. Gizzerosine was extracted from fish meal with 0.1?N HCl solution. Samples and standard gizzerosine solutions were absorbed onto a paper disc, which was then set on electrophoresis paper for 18?min, and the paper was dried. Gizzerosine was visualized with Pauly??s reagent, and the intensity of the colored spots was digitized and calculated by image processing method software. We achieved successful separation of gizzerosine from other Pauly??s reagent-positive components in fish meal extracts. The linearity of gizzerosine estimation using this method was within the range 30?C1000?ng (R ²?=?0.99). Gizzerosine was satisfactorily detected and completely separated from histamine and other Pauly??s reagent-positive compounds. This method does not require expensive instruments or tedious pretreatment to eliminate interfering compounds, such as histamine or histidine. It also uses less reagent compared with high-performance liquid chromatography. Moreover, it is a simple, rapid, sensitive, and reproducible method. It is suitable for monitoring gizzerosine in fish meal products that contain as little as 10?ppm gizzerosine.     

Lipid composition of malpigmented and normally pigmented newly settled yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea (Storer)

The lipid composition of malpigmented (MP) and normally pigmented (NP), newly settled yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea, Storer) was compared in order to elucidate a possible connection between lipids and pigmentation development. Larvae were fed commercially enriched live food for 12 weeks post hatch and then differences in lipid composition and size were analysed. NP fish were found to be significantly larger (standard length 35 mm) than MP fish (32 mm) at 100% settlement. There were higher proportions of triacylglycerols in NP fish (P = 0.01), whereas MP fish had an increased percentage of phospholipids (P = 0.01). NP fish had a higher percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the polar lipids of their body (P = 0.03) and total lipids of their eyes (P = 0.04). These data support previously proposed theories for the importance of DHA in pigmentation development. Principal components analysis (PCA) described the majority of the variance (77%) within the data set using just two principal components axes. PCA demonstrated that differences between body zones were greater than those between NP and MP fish within a given zone.     

Energy Metabolism in Fish Tissues Related to Osmoregulation and Cortisol Action

This is an overview of our recent studies of energy metabolism in fish brain and other organs regulated by exogenous (feeding, salinity) and endogenous (hormones) factors. To highlight our approach, we present latest results concerned osmoregulation in the gills of gilthead seabream, Sparus auratus. Our model, the seabream, is a euryhaline teleost capable of adaptation to extreme changes in environmental salinity. Treatment with cortisol allowed us to achieve circulating cortisol levels similar to those observed during osmotic adaptation and to assess how elevated hormonal levels affected simultaneously metabolic and osmoregulatory capacities of the gill tissue. Cortisol-implanted fish showed higher gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity than control fish but no changes were observed in plasma osmolality and ion levels. Plasma levels of glucose and lactate increased in cortisol-implanted fish while protein levels decreased. Cortisol treatment elicited metabolic changes in liver and brain reflecting an activation of the glycogenic and gluconeogenic potential in liver, and the glycogenic potential in brain, which are confirmatory of data obtained in previous experiments. In gills, we demonstrated that cortisol treatment elicited changes in their energy metabolism that can be summarized as a decreased capacity in the use of exogenous glucose (decreased HK activity), a decrease in the capacity of the pentose phosphate pathway (decreased G6PDH activity), and an increased glycolytic potential (increased PK activity). Observed metabolic changes in gills can be associated with those occurring in nature during osmotic adaptation in the same fish species.     

大黄鱼冷藏过程肌肉蛋白质生化特性与新鲜度的相关性

为研究大黄鱼冷藏期间肌肉蛋白质变化与鲜度品质的相关性,以色差值、质构、挥发性盐基氮(TVB-N)以及感官评分等鲜度指标判断鱼肉品质,并结合肌肉蛋白质中盐溶性和水溶性蛋白质含量、总巯基含量、羰基含量、蛋白质分子量以及粒径分布等蛋白质生化特性指标,分析大黄鱼4℃冷藏10 d肌肉蛋白质变化与鲜度品质的相关性。结果显示,冷藏期间大黄鱼肌肉的L*、a*和W值下降,b*值上升;鱼肉咀嚼性、黏着性和硬度下降;TVB-N由(4.42±0.21) mg/100 g增至(38.46±0.87) mg/100 g,并于第8天达二级鲜度标准,感官评分第8天不可接受。冷藏期间大黄鱼盐溶性和水溶性蛋白质含量、总巯基含量、羰基含量变化趋势相似。盐溶性蛋白质含量呈先小幅上升后下降的变化趋势,由(159.36±6.51) mg/g降至(91.99±13.82) mg/g,质量分数下降了42.27%,水溶性蛋白质含量由(33.68±2.13) mg/g降至(17.57±0.70) mg/g,质量分数下降了47.77%。盐溶性蛋白质的巯基含量和羰基含量分别由(3.95±0.04) mol/105g pro降至(1.08±0...     

Lead accumulation and its effects on the branchial physiology of Prochilodus lineatus

The purpose of this work was to determine the tissue accumulation of lead (Pb) and its effects on osmoregulatory processes of the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus. Juvenile fish were exposed to Pb (from 1.7 to 0.7 mg of dissolved Pb L^?1) for 6, 24 and 96 h and Pb accumulation was analyzed in the gills, liver, kidneys, blood cells and muscle. The following parameters were also analyzed: hematologic (hemoglobin content, hematocrit and number of red blood cells), metabolic (blood glucose), endocrine (blood cortisol), osmo ionic (plasma osmolality and Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^? and Ca⁺² concentrations), gill enzymes (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase), chloride cell (CC) density and CC location in the gills. Pb accumulated in all the analyzed tissues, with the kidneys showing the highest concentration, followed by the gills and liver. The lowest Pb concentrations were found in blood cells and muscle. Pb promoted an increase in blood glucose after 6 and 24 h exposure. Gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase was inhibited after 24 h of exposure, but its activity was restored at 96 h, probably due to the increase in CC in gill lamellae. Plasma Na⁺ was reduced after 6 and 96 h, while K⁺ concentrations increased at all the experimental times. Fish exposed to Pb showed reduced plasma Ca⁺² at all experimental periods. Hematologic parameters remained unchanged. Overall, this study demonstrated that Pb interferes in osmoregulatory processes of P. lineatus and the proliferation of CC in the gills is a response in order to reestablish adequate ion concentrations.