Impact of aquaculture feed technology on fish income and poverty in Kenya

ABSTRACT

The impacts of improved agricultural technologies on smallholder households in Africa are well documented in the literature. However, the literature on the welfare impacts of aquaculture technologies, especially in the context of smallholder households, is very scanty. This paper applies the propensity score matching technique to household survey data to examine the impact of improved feed technology on fish income and poverty in Kenya. After controlling for observable household characteristics, the results indicate that improved feed technology increases aquaculture income and reduces poverty among fish farming households. Specifically, the income effect of the technology is 23–37%, with resultant poverty reduction effect of 19–23% points. Evidence from the study indicates that the likelihood of adopting improved feed in Kenya will surge with improved extension service delivery, access to government subsidized feed, and easy market access for purchasing improved feed and sale of mature fish.     

Bacterial community composition shifts in sediments influenced by fish feeds

This study investigated the influence of fish feed deposition on the microbial community of sediments in a coastal lake. Microcosms were designed to simulate the addition of fish feeds to the sediment, and physicochemical factors as well as composition of microbial assemblages were analysed. Although total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen did not significantly increase, redox potential and total sulphides showed a transition of sediment environments into anaerobic condition due to the addition of fish feeds. The bacterial community composition shifted with fish feed deposition as revealed by the band profiles of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, Sørensen's similarity indices and cell numbers of sulphate‐reducing bacteria. Occurrence of anaerobic bacteria (sulphate and nitrate reducers) and disappearance of strictly aerobic bacteria were observed with fish feed inputs. The results clarify the succession of the microbial flora and suggest negative impact of uneaten fish feeds on the microbial community in sediment and resultant environmental deterioration of fish‐farming areas.     

Current status and prospects of farming the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) in Bangladesh

Giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. Presently, it is cultured in around 50 000 ha area with total annual production of 23 240 t. Traditional extensive prawn farming has been expanding over the last three decades through the introduction and adoption of improved culture systems, such as culture of prawn‐carps, prawn‐shrimp‐fish and prawn‐fish‐rice as concurrent and rotational systems. Efforts for the development of improved techniques on broodstock management, seed production and rearing and grow‐out of prawn have been made over the last decade. The outcomes are low‐cost feed for broodstock, production of post‐larvae in net cages (hapa), all‐male prawn culture, periphyton based prawn‐tilapia culture, C/N based prawn culture, organic prawn farming, prawn‐mola culture and prawn‐carp‐mola polyculture. Despite the development of culture technologies, a number of challenges for sustainable development of prawn farming need to be overcome to realize the potentials of this promising sector. Good aquaculture practises at all levels and application of measures for quality control and food safety would ensure sustainable development of prawn farming in Bangladesh.     

以大口黑鲈和大黄鱼配合饲料应用为例谈 改变鱼类营养和饲料研究范式

鱼类营养和饲料研究始于70年前并借鉴陆生动物营养研究经验形成了研究范式。在过去70年中,鱼类营养和饲料研究取得了大量的成果,这些研究成果推动了水产配合饲料技术的进步,为水产饲料产业从无到有、从小到大做出了贡献。然而,随着全球水产养殖规模的不断扩大,水产养殖发展面临的资源和环境压力日益增加,对水产饲料也提出了更高的要求。事实表明,根据一些鱼类营养和饲料研究成果所配方的饲料在养殖生产实践中往往不能取得预期的应用效果,这意味着在已有范式下取得的研究成果有时难以很好地满足现代鱼类养殖产业的需要。本文叙述了具有重要经济价值的两种肉食性鱼类大口黑鲈和大黄鱼配合饲料研发与应用的历程,指出对饲料蛋白需求的低估是限制配合饲料长期未能在大口黑鲈和大黄鱼养殖生产中应用的主要原因。早期研究报道大口黑鲈的饲料蛋白需求为400-440 g/kg,大黄鱼的饲料蛋白需求为450-470 g/kg。经过重新评估后将大口黑鲈和大黄鱼的最适饲料蛋白水平分别提高到480-510 g/kg和490-520 g/kg。在适宜的饲料蛋白水平下,投喂配合饲料的大口黑鲈和大黄鱼生长与投喂冰鲜鱼时相当。作者认为对饲料蛋白需求的低估与已有鱼类营养和饲料研究范式存在的不足有关,其表现为：（1）强调食物对鱼类生长的作用,但忽视了实验鱼遗传背景和食物以外的环境条件对生长和摄食的影响;（2）强调鱼类个体生长对评价营养需求和饲料质量的重要性,但忽视了鱼类个体生长差异并不能完全反映养殖产量和效益的事实;（3）强调生长和饲料利用效率作为鱼类营养和饲料研究评价指标的重要性,但忽视了养殖对环境和自然资源的负面影响是限制水产养殖产业可持续发展的瓶颈;（4）没有足够重视基础饲料配方在评价营养需求或饲料质量方面的影响,一些研究因基础饲料组成不当而产生没有实际意义的评价结果。针对上述问题,作者建议从概念、理论和研究方法方面对已有的范式做如下修改：（1）重视鱼类遗传背景和食物以外的环境条件对鱼类生长的影响,明确鱼类营养需求取决于其生长需求;（2）重视食物中各种营养素之间的相互作用,明确不同饲料原料在实现配方的营养平衡方面发挥着不同的作用;（3）重视对实验鱼种质和种群结构的选择,重视对照组和处理组个体生长差异的幅度对判断饲料处理效应的指示作用,重视饲料配方对渔业资源和环境等水产养殖可持续发展相关的内容的影响。经过修改后的研究范式更符合养殖生产实际,在此基础上开展研究所获得的成果也能够更好地指导配合饲料生产,为鱼类养殖产业的可持续发展提供更好的科技支撑。     

Real‐time measurement of protein leaching from micro‐particulate larval fish feeds

The small size and high surface area to volume ratio of larval fish feed presents challenges for nutrient retention in micro‐particulate diets. A method for the accurate and rapid measurement of nutrient retention or loss from micro‐particulate feed in water is needed to help develop micro‐particulate feeds with good nutrient retention characteristics. The present study developed and validated an instrument method using fibre optic technology that measures protein leaching in real time. Larval fish feed particles of different sizes (100–500 μm) and formulations were measured. Under consistent experimental conditions, a feed could be assayed for the rate of mass loss and the half‐life or time of 50% total soluble mass loss. The results closely approximated natural decay models with coefficients of determination (r²) >0.95. The end result is a fast and accurate method to quantify and provide solid reference data for a feed formulation or particle size. Using this method allows different feeds to be compared and conclusions drawn for relative performance.     

Review on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax,Linnaeus, 1758) nutrition and feed management: a practical guide for optimizing feed formulation and farming protocols

As increasing amounts of novel raw materials are used in aquafeed production, it is important to measure their quality against existing ingredients and their effects upon production strategies. A first step to achieving this goal begins with an improved understanding of the underlying growth potential of each farmed species across a range of dietary ingredients and farming practices. Species‐specific physiological limitations and metabolic effects of both single chemicals and complex chemical matrixes are factors to be considered in producing robust fish and a healthy aquaculture sector. The industry must also consider ethical, environmental and economic issues and optimize feed management practices. This review summarizes current knowledge on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) nutritional requirements, presents current feed management practices for this species, gives insights on a secure framework for using plant ingredients in exchange for traditional marine raw materials and outlines its growth potential through a meta‐analysis of the best‐performance results available in peer‐reviewed scientific publications for this species. As the best‐performing fish were mostly those fed high fish meal fish oil control diets, the summarized results have the potential to be used as a quality control for benchmarking future scientific research in this fish species.     

Using genetic methods for analysis of fish meals and feeds employed in Greek mariculture

Large quantities of high protein fish meals are needed to sustain cultured species and thus the impact to marine ecosystem has been highly discussed. The aim of this study was to apply a PCR‐cloning methodology for a robust insight into the composition of commercial fish meals and feeds for farmed species of the Greek mariculture, assessing the risk posed by aquaculture to marine ecosystems but also the risk posed by commercial fish feeds to the increase in trophic level of species farmed in Greece. 89% of the sequences were identified to species level and only 11% to genus/family level. Overall, a total of 49 taxa were identified (44 fish species/taxon, five non‐fish species/taxon). Even though small pelagic fish like Engraulis sp. were the main portion, a wide range of species constituted the fish meals and feeds. Plant and animal species were also detected as an alternative protein source. Feed products employed in Greek mariculture still contain large portions of fish meals which increase the mean trophic level of farmed species causing a farming up trend. The results emphasize that such molecular methodologies are needed to certify aquafeeds allowing fish feed producers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable aquaculture.     

Fishing for feed in China: Facts,impacts and implications

China is the world's largest capture fisheries and aquaculture producer. Over recent decades, China's domestic marine catch composition has changed markedly, from large volumes of a few high‐valued food species to multiple, small, low‐valued, species, a significant proportion of which is primarily used as animal, especially fish, feed. Despite the growing volume and economic importance of the feed catches, their species composition, catch volumes and socio‐environmental impacts are all poorly understood. Based on a nationwide survey of >800 fishing vessels, and the identification and measurement of >12,000 fish and invertebrate individuals, the present study provides an overview of the feed component of China's domestic marine catch, by volumes, species and sizes, and found it to be substantial and biologically unsustainable. Half of the trawler catch (3 million metric tons, mmt), or 35% of the total catch (4.6 mmt) in China's exclusive economic zone, are now comprised of low‐valued “feed‐grade fish”. The present study identified 218 fish species, 50 crustaceans and five cephalopods, and of these, 102 fish species were food species with 89% individuals in their juvenile size ranges. Feed‐grade fish were mainly used as aquaculture feed directly, or indirectly, through the feed industry after reduction to fishmeal and fish oil. The unparalleled scale and poor fisheries resource condition of China's domestic marine fisheries, in parallel with severe overfishing of juveniles, creates a demand for fundamental changes to fishery management practices, including a significant reduction of fishing effort to ensure productivity and ecosystem resilience.     

Effects of supplementary feeds with different protein levels on growth and economic performances of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem

This study investigated the effects of supplementary feeds with different crude protein (CP) levels on the growth and economic performances of sex-reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem for a period of 120 days. There were four treatments—namely, traditional feed (21% CP), formulated feed (26% CP), commercial feed (30% CP), and control (no feed was used)—with three replicates per treatment. Fish (30.04 g) were stocked in ditches at a rate of 0.5 fish m^?2 considering the total area and fed one of the tested feeds twice daily at the rate of 2%–5% of body weight. Water-quality parameters of the ditches were monitored fortnightly, and these parameters were found suitable for fish farming. Organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous in soil were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the feed treatments after fish cultivation. Highly significant weight gain and SGR were observed with fish fed the commercial feed as compared with other treatments. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.15) was found in the control, followed by formulated feed (1.90), but in the case of numerical net return, it was the opposite. However, commercial feed showed the lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.67) due to higher feed cost than other supplementary feeds. Therefore, this study suggests that fish fed with a formulated feed (26% CP) produced significantly higher net economic return in the rice–fish farming system.     

The future of genetic engineering to provide essential dietary nutrients and improve growth performance in aquaculture: Advantages and challenges

Advancements in gene technology in recent years have been driving the aquaculture industry forward. Improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and omega‐3 content are goals of the industry that could capitalize on applications of genetic engineering. One of the major challenges in the industry is to reduce the use of fish meal and oil, to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of aquaculture. The recent development of genetically engineered feed ingredients is one potential solution to the looming problem of fish meal and oil dependency. Furthermore, the development of transgenic fish has potential to improve production efficiency and other future desirable characteristics that relate to feed utilization and product quality. New gene technologies are beginning to revolutionize how we produce our food, and in aquaculture, will ultimately reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, help to preserve natural aquatic ecosystems, and improve nutritional profiles of farmed fish for human consumption. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current applications of genetic engineering technology to improve aquaculture through nutrition, including the development and use of transgenic feed ingredients, transgenic fish, and ultimately their impacts on nutrition, product quality, and consumers.     

饲料中发酵啤酒酵母添加水平对大口黑鲈生长、饲料利用效率和水质的影响

鱼类营养和饲料研究起始于20世纪50年代,并借鉴对人类和畜、禽营养研究的经验建立了研究范式。在过去70年中,鱼类营养和饲料研究遵循已有的范式取得了大量的成果,这些研究成果推动了水产配合饲料技术的进步,为水产饲料产业从无到有、从小到大做出了贡献。然而,随着全球水产养殖规模的不断扩大,水产养殖产业面临的资源和环境压力日益增加,对水产饲料也提出了更多和更高的要求。养殖生产实践表明,根据一些肉食性鱼类营养和饲料研究结果设计配方生产的饲料不能取得预期的应用效果,这意味着遵循已有研究范式所得到的结果难以完全满足现代鱼类养殖生产的需要。本文总结了两种具有重要经济价值的肉食性鱼类(大口黑鲈和大黄鱼)配合饲料在养殖生产中应用的曲折历程,指出早期研究明显低估了饲料蛋白水平是导致配合饲料长期无法在养殖生产中成功应用的主要原因。早期研究报道大口黑鲈的饲料蛋白需求为400~440 g/kg,大黄鱼的饲料蛋白需求为450~470 g/kg,但投喂配合饲料的鱼的生长明显比投喂冰鲜鱼的鱼慢。重新评估发现大口黑鲈和大黄鱼饲料蛋白需求分别为480~510 g/kg和490~520 g/kg,投喂含适量蛋白的配合饲料时鱼生长与投喂冰鲜鱼时接近。对大口黑鲈和大黄鱼饲料蛋白需求的明显低估反映出已有鱼类营养和饲料研究范式中存在不足,其表现为：①强调食物对鱼类生长的影响,但忽视了鱼类遗传背景和食物外的其他环境条件对鱼类生长和摄食的作用;②强调鱼类个体生长可反映其营养需求和饲料质量,但忽视了鱼类个体生长并不能完全反映养殖产量和效益;③强调生长和饲料利用效率在评价水产养殖效益方面的重要性,但忽视了投饵养殖对自然资源和环境所产生的负面影响是限制水产养殖可持续发展的瓶颈;④基础饲料配方对评价营养需求或饲料质量的影响没有得到足够重视,因基础饲料组成不合理导致一些研究结果缺乏实际意义。针对上述问题,作者建议对已有范式的概念、理论和研究方法做如下改进：①重视鱼类遗传背景和食物以外的其它环境条件对鱼类生长的影响,明确鱼类生长潜力决定营养需求,而食物营养是实现生长潜力的条件;②重视食物中各种营养素之间的相互作用,明确不同饲料原料在配方的营养平衡中发挥不同的作用;③进行饲养实验时重视实验鱼种质和种群结构,重视对照组和处理组个体生长的差异幅度在判断处理效应方面的指示意义,重视饲料配方对自然资源和环境等制约水产养殖可持续发展的因素的影响。改进后的研究范式更符合现代水产养殖生产实际,遵循其开展研究获得的结果能够更好地指导饲料配方设计,所生产的配合饲料也能更好地应用于水产养殖生产。

     

深水网箱养鱼业的现状与发展趋势

深水网箱是指设置在相对较深海域,养殖容量较大,具有较强的抗风浪、流性能的海上养殖设施。它在拓展养殖海域、减轻沿岸环境压力、提高养殖鱼的质量、增加养殖效益等方面已显示出明显的优势。由于它是新兴的一种设施渔业,能包容的高新技术多,涉及材料、机械、电子、苗种、饲料、环境等诸多方面,当前仍有不少技术问题需要解决。建议今后对此产业加强宏观管理和指导,改进设施,改善管理,加强科技投入,提高业者素质,扩大经营规模,提高产品质量,借鉴世界上渔业发达国家的经验,使这一产业健康、持续发展。     

Stable isotope analysis to quantify contributions of supplementary feed in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT strain) aquaculture

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is currently one of the most farmed freshwater fish and contributes significantly to total global aquaculture production. The genetically improved strain of O. niloticus (GIFT) was introduced to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1999 to improve food and income security. The high cost and low availability of commercial fish feed hinder the growth of GIFT farming in PNG. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were used to determine the role of supplementary and natural food sources in the diet of GIFT in pond‐based aquaculture. Two treatments were used: treatment 1 was daily feeding, and treatment 2 was weekly feeding, each with three replicates. Isotopic analysis of muscle tissue and all potential food sources showed that pellet feed contributed 7% to the growth of GIFT in daily‐fed ponds and 33% in the weekly‐fed ponds. Highly enriched δ¹⁵N values for chicken manure, compared to depleted values for GIFT and other natural food sources in both treatments, clearly indicate insignificant contributions of this input to production. After 90 days of cultivation, the average final body weight of GIFT receiving daily feed inputs was 134 g (average 19 cm), while for weekly‐fed it was 92 g (17 cm). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poor (6.4:1) in the daily‐fed GIFT ponds compared to a better, and preferable, FCR (1:1) in the weekly‐fed ponds. The findings of this study show that pelleted feed was not the major contributor to the growth of GIFT. Genetically improved farmed tilapia aquaculture should focus on enhancing natural food availability for fish production.     

Ecological footprint for assessment of resource use and development limitations in shrimp and tilapia aquaculture

We review estimates of the spatial ecosystem support required to run a typical semi-intensive shrimp farm in a coastal mangrove area in Carribean Colombia, and to produce food inputs and process wastes for large-scale industrially managed tilapia cage culture and small-scale, semi-intensive tilapia pond farming in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. The tilapia farming is discussed in relation to the pelagic kapenta, Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger), fishery and to inshore fisheries in the Lake. The results show that a semi-intensive shrimp farm needs a spatial ecosystem support—the ecological footprint—35 to 190 times the surface area of the pond, mainly mangrove area. Based on the analysis, we conclude that shrimp farming in Colombia is already utilizing close to the full support capacity of its coastal environment. In intensive tilapia cage farming, the ecological footprint for feed production is 10 000 times larger than the area of the cages. In contrast, a tilapia pond farm maintained on offals from fisheries, agriculture and households depends very little on external ecosystem areas. As long as there is a direct market for human consumption of all kapenta caught in the Lake, fish cage farming based on fish meal from kapenta would be doubtful from ethical, ecological as well as resource management points of view, even if it was economically feasible.     

Effect of dietary fish protein hydrolysate on growth,feed utilization and IGF‐I levels of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fish protein hydrolysate on growth performance, insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) levels and the expression levels of liver IGF‐I mRNA in juvenile Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Fish hydrolysate was produced by enzymatic (alcalase and flavourzyme) treatment and size‐fractionated by ultrafiltration. The permeate after ultrafiltration (UF) and the non‐ultrafiltered fish hydrolysate were tested as feed ingredients using high plant protein diets. Fish meal was used in the control diet (FM). The feeding trial lasted for 60 days, and fish fed with 37 g kg^?1 UF showed the best growth, feed efficiency, digestibility and protein utilization. Plasma IGF‐I level was examined with radioimmunoassay, and the expression levels of liver IGF‐I mRNA were evaluated using real‐time PCR normalized against the 18S rRNA gene. Plasma IGF‐I levels were significantly increased by inclusion of fish protein hydrolysate. Liver IGF‐I mRNA expression was significantly higher in fish fed with 37 g kg^?1 UF diet than fish fed with control diet. The results indicated that small molecular weight compounds from fish protein hydrolysate showed a positive effect on growth and feed utilization in juvenile Japanese flounder. Dietary fish protein hydrolysate could improve plasma IGF‐I levels and liver IGF‐I mRNA expression in Japanese flounder.     

Technical efficiency of carp pond culture in South Asia: An application of a stochastic meta‐production frontier model

Abstract

A stochastic meta‐production frontier model is estimated to examine the inter‐country differences in levels of technical efficiency of semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive carp pond culture systems among the major carp producing countries in South Asia, namely India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. The mean technical efficiencies for semi‐intensive/intensive farms vary from 0.68 for Nepal to 0.79 for India, with an overall average of 0.75 and those for extensive farms vary from 0.48 for Bangladesh to 0.62 for Pakistan, with an overall mean of 0.57. Differences in efficiency levels are explained in terms of various farm‐specific and country‐specific factors by estimating a model for technical inefficiency effects. The adoption of recommended fish, water, and feed management practices is found to be critical for improved performance of carp producers. For each country, the study also compares the efficiency scores based on its own production frontier with those obtained from the meta‐production frontier.     

Comparative efficacy of trash fish versus compounded commercial feeds in cage aquaculture of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) (Bloch) and tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) (Forsskål)

Trash fish/low valued fish is still the most commonly used feed in marine cage culture in Asia. Use of trash fish is controversial with regard to the sustainability of the farming practices, and related issues on environmental degradation. In this study, the results of farm based trials on Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) and tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) to evaluate the efficacies of the use of commercial pellet feed in comparison to trash fish/low valued fish in marine cages in Thailand are presented. In spite of the variations observed in each of the farm sites, the results indicate that the overall growth performances and fish survival rates between the two feed types were similar, for both species. However, better cost‐benefit and resource use were recorded for fish reared on trash fish/low valued fish. No significant differences were observed in water quality parameters, dissolved oxygen, transparency and ammonia, between sites where pellet or trash fish were used, inside and outside the cages and for both species. The results of the present study are discussed in the light of the current controversies on the use of trash fish/low valued fish in marine cage culture.     

Effect of size‐fractionated fish protein hydrolysate on growth and feed utilization of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Four experimental diets were fed to turbot to examine the effect of fish hydrolysate and ultra‐filtered fish hydrolysate on growth performance, feed utilization and non‐specific immune response. Fish hydrolysate was produced by enzymatic treatment and size fractionated using ultra‐filtration (UF). The permeate (molecular weight <1000 Da) after UF and the non‐ultra‐filtered fish hydrolysate (NUF) were tested as feed ingredients. Diets UF1, UF2 contained 3.7%, 1.2% ultra‐filtered fish hydrolysate to replace fish meal protein respectively. The diets UF1, NUF were identical in composition except that the molecular weight of fish hydrolysate in the diet. Fish meal was used in the control diet. All diets were made equal in protein, lipid and energy. Each experimental diet was fed to juvenile turbot (27.87 ± 0.04 g) in triplicate for 8 weeks. Results of this study indicate that the best overall growth and feed utilization of turbot juveniles were obtained with a diet containing higher dose of the small molecular weight compounds in fish hydrolysate. Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activity in serum were not affected by diet. Total antioxidant capacity was improved with increasing level of low molecule weight fish hydrolysate (UF1).     

Economic contribution of fish culture to farm income in Southeast Vietnam

Rural aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms with extensive and semi-intensive husbandry practised by small-scale rural households for their consumption and income. From a field survey in Southeast Vietnam, using enterprise budget analysis and nonparametric tests with indices of change, adoption, and agreement, this study justifies that rural aquaculture is a good option for rural development, making an important contribution to farm income with a high adoption rate among poor farmers. Fish farmers have gained an increased level of satisfaction by means of fish culture production growth along with corresponding economic gains. This enterprise continues to play an increasing important role in their livelihoods and has potential to develop further in the area.     

Analysis of retinol, 3‐hydroxyretinol and 3,4‐didehydroretinol in North American farm‐raised freshwater fish liver,muscle and feed

Vitamin A (VA) is an essential micronutrient in fish, vital for reproduction, vision and immunity. Freshwater fish species store and use VA in the form of retinol (ROL), as well as uncommon forms such as 3,4‐didehydroretinol (DROL) and 3‐hydroxyretinol (3ROL). We developed and validated an HPLC method capable of measuring ROL, DROL and 3ROL in the feed and tissues of North American freshwater fish, for which little information on retinoid concentrations is available. DROL and ROL were higher than expected in both fish feed and fish liver (at 9.5–29.6 mg kg^?1 DROL and 26.9–79.2 mg kg^?1 ROL for feed; and 19.8–548.8 μg g^?1 DROL and 10.4–128.8 μg g^?1 ROL for liver). Interestingly, DROL concentrations were lower than ROL in fish feed, but often substantially higher in fish liver. Concentrations of ROL and DROL were similar to each other in muscle. 3ROL was detected in fish liver only. To our knowledge, this is the first publication to measure DROL concentrations in North American farm‐raised fish and commercial fish feed. Monitoring of not only ROL, but DROL and 3ROL as well, may be advisable to better assess the VA content of fish feed and tissue.