Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels with Different Protein‐to‐Energy Ratios on Growth,Feed Utilization,and Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Dianchi Golden‐line Barbell,Sinocyclocheilus grahami

An 8‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy (P/E) ratios on growth, feed utilization, and plasma biochemical parameters of Sinocyclocheilus graham. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (35, 40, and 45%), and each with three lipid levels (4, 8, and 12%), to produce a range of P/E ratios from 71.31 to 98.64 mg protein/kcal. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish. Fish grew best when fed the diet containing 45% protein and 12% lipid. However, fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 8% lipid had similar weight gain and specific growth rate as those fed the above diet but showed relatively better feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and protein and energy retentions. Additionally, plasma total amino acids and blood urea nitrogen contents and γ‐glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities in fish fed the diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid were relatively low among the dietary treatments. These results may indicate that a diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid with P/E ratio of 84.05 mg protein/kcal would be suitable for the optimal growth, feed utilization, and health of S. graham.     

Optimal harvesting of farmed Atlantic salmon at two cohort management strategies and different harvest operation restrictions

Abstract

The main harvest planning problem in commercial fish farms is to determine the best time‐sequence of harvesting different fish cohorts in order to maximize the overall farm profit. Due to both annual and fish‐size variations in market prices, future forecasts of fish growth and size distribution are required to optimize harvest plans. Two management strategies for harvesting size‐structured fish cohorts are considered. The first strategy allows the fish farmer, at any time, to size‐grade, harvest and sell the most profitable fish sizes from the standing stock. The second strategy allows the fish farmer to harvest and sell a fish batch with similar size distribution as that of the standing stock. In this paper, two size‐structured fish growth models have been built to fit the two management strategies. The growth models are integrated in a multiperiod linear programming model that optimizes the harvest outputs for each of the two management strategies. Model outputs demonstrate clearly that it is more profitable to size‐grade fish prior to harvest compared to harvesting a batch of fish with similar size distribution to that of the standing stock. Five different harvest operations constraints have been identified for commercial salmon farming. The decrease in profitability of fish farming is shown for a variety of harvest operation constraints.     

Effect of cultivated copepods (Acartia tonsa) in first‐feeding of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional composition and effects of short periods with cultivated copepod nauplii versus rotifers in first‐feeding. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae were given four different dietary regimes in the earliest start‐feeding period. One group was fed the copepod Acartia tonsa nauplii (Cop), a second fed enriched rotifers (RotMG), a third fed unenriched rotifers (RotChl) and a fourth copepods for the seven first days of feeding and enriched rotifers the rest of the period (Cop7). Cod larvae were fed Artemia sp. between 20 and 40 dph (days posthatching), and ballan wrasse between 36 and 40 dph, with weaning to a formulated diet thereafter. In addition to assessing growth and survival, response to handling stress was measured. This study showed that even short periods of feeding with cultivated copepod nauplii (7 days) had positive long‐term effects on the growth and viability of the fish larvae. At the end of both studies (60 days posthatching), fish larvae fed copepods showed higher survival, better growth and viability than larvae fed rotifers. This underlines the importance of early larval nutrition.     

Development of plant‐based diets and the evaluation of dietary attractants for juvenile Florida pompano,Trachinotus carolinus L.

Sustainable and profitable commercial aquaculture production of marine fish species is dependent on the development of sustainable protein sources as substitutes for expensive animal meals such as fishmeal (FM). Previous Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus studies have indicated that poultry by‐product meal (PBM) and meat and bone meal can be used to produce a FM‐free diet if suitable levels of nutrients (such as taurine) are included in the diets. In this study, we attempted to develop an all‐plant protein diet by removing the animal proteins in practical diets for pompano by substituting back select ingredients. A series of eight FM‐free diets were formulated, four systematically replaced soybean meal (SBM) with soy protein concentrate (SPC) and four replaced PBM with SPC. Based on the results, there is no clear disadvantage to the use of SPC as a replacement for SBM. However, the complete removal of PBM resulted in reduced performance. Two additional growth trials were conducted to supplement additional amino acids including glycine, valine and histidine, a proprietary chemical attractant mix, fish protein concentrate and squid hydrolysate to improve the growth of pompano when fed all‐plant protein diets. The only improvement in performance occurred with the squid hydrolysate. These results demonstrate that using soybean meal, soy protein concentrate and corn gluten meal as the primary protein sources, a plant‐based feed formulation can be developed, but the removal of all animal proteins is not yet feasible.     

Significant improvement of shrimp growth performance by growth hormone‐releasing peptide‐6 immersion treatments

Growth hormone‐releasing peptide‐6 (GHRP‐6) is one of the earliest developed synthetic peptidyl growth hormone secretagogue receptor agonists. These compounds mimic the effect of the endogenous ligand ghrelin. In vertebrates, ghrelin is a potent circulating orexigenic hormone with functional roles in controlling food intake, energy expenditure, adiposity, growth hormone secretion and immunity. Ghrelin has been studied mainly in vertebrates; thus, little is known about its role in invertebrates, including crustaceans. We first evaluated the effect of GHRP‐6 injection over feed intake in shrimp and its effects on shrimp growth when the peptide was administrated by successive immersion baths. GHRP‐6 increased feed intake, body weight and size, the number of rostral spines and gill branches, protein concentration and haemocyte number in treated shrimps. We also evaluated the peptide uptake and clearance in a pharmacokinetics, using [H³]GHRP‐6 administered to postlarvae. Given a limited exposure and efficient clearance of the peptide‐associated radioactivity from larvae, our findings suggested that GHRP‐6‐treated Litopenaeus vannamei can be consumed safely by humans after aquaculture applications. These results propose that GHRP‐6 could be an additional tool to study growth physiology in crustaceans and also a promising candidate for development into a new biotechnology product for improving shrimp growth and quality.     

Effects of no‐take area size and age of marine protected areas on fisheries yields: a meta‐analytical approach

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often promoted as tools for biodiversity conservation as well as for fisheries management. Despite increasing evidence of their usefulness, questions remain regarding the optimal design of MPAs, in particular concerning their function as fisheries management tools, for which empirical studies are still lacking. Using 28 data sets from seven MPAs in Southern Europe, we developed a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the effects of protection on adjacent fisheries and asking how these effects are influenced by MPA size and age. Southern European MPAs showed clear effects on the surrounding fisheries, on the ‘catch per unit effort’ (CPUE) of target species, but especially on the CPUE of the marketable catch. These effects depended on the time of protection and on the size of the no‐take area. CPUE of both target species and the marketable catch increased gradually by 2–4% per year over a long time period (at least 30 years). The influence of the size of the no‐take area appeared to be more complex. The catch rates of the entire fishery in and around the MPA were higher when the no‐take areas were smaller. Conversely, catch rates of selected fisheries that were expected to benefit most from protection increased when the no‐take area was larger. Our results emphasize the importance of MPA size on its export functions and suggest that an adequate, often extended, time frame be used for the management and the evaluation of effectiveness of MPAs.     

Antioxidant defence to ammonia stress of characins (Hyphessobrycon eques Steindachner) fed diets supplemented with carotenoids

This study aimed to find out whether dietary carotenoid (CD) supplement could influence the resistance of characins (Hyphessobrycon eques Steindachner) to ammonia stress. Two types of CD and its combination [astaxanthin (AX), β‐carotene (BC), 1 : 1 combination of AX and BC (MX)] at three concentrations (10, 20 and 40 mg kg⁻¹) were used resulting in nine pigmented diets. No differences in growth and survival of the fish among treatments were found after 8‐week rearing. Experimental and control fish were then exposed to 15 mg total ammonia nitrogen L⁻¹ (stress group) and 0.15 mg total ammonia nitrogen L⁻¹ (normal group) for 72 h, and their blood was withdrawn. No mortality resulted under such TAN concentrations. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), serum antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidases (GPx)] and serum transaminases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] were chosen as indices of fish antioxidant capacity or stress resistance. SOD, GPx and AST were affected by the interactions of dietary CD and ammonia stress. The activities of TAS, SOD, GPx and AST increased under the stress. Dietary CD reduced serum SOD, GPx, ALT and AST activities. In conclusion, dietary CD increased the resistance of characins to ammonia stress.     

Evaluating the relationship between yearling walleye,Sander vitreus,electrofishing catch‐per‐unit‐effort and density in northern Wisconsin lakes

Recruitment declines of walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), observed in some northern Wisconsin lakes have resulted in management actions to evaluate and rehabilitate populations. An effective index for estimating relative abundance of yearling walleye is required. The objectives herein were : (a) to evaluate the relationship between yearling walleye electrofishing CPUE and density in northern Wisconsin lakes; (b) to test for the influence of lake‐specific factors on electrofishing catchability of yearling walleye; and (c) to develop an index whereby electrofishing CPUE can be used to quantify yearling walleye relative abundance. Yearling density was significantly positively related to electrofishing CPUE on a long‐term dataset from Escanaba Lake as well as a dataset including several lakes combined. Electrofishing catchability of yearling walleye was negatively related to lake‐surface area but was not related to other lake‐specific variables. This index can provide an efficient method to continue monitoring natural recruitment and also to evaluate survival of stocked walleye.     

Retrospective analysis of the influence of environmental drivers on commercial stocks and fishing opportunities in the Irish Sea

Irish Sea fisheries have undergone considerable change in recent years following the decline of commercially important finfish stocks and their slow response to management's recovery plans. In 2015, the fishing industry called for a holistic exploration into the impact of environmental change and food web effects to identify the drivers underpinning stock dynamics. In this study, we identify correlations between large‐scale climatic indicators, temperature, primary and secondary productivity, and fish recruitment in the Irish Sea and incorporate them into an Ecopath with Ecosim food web model co‐created by scientists and fishers. Negative correlations were found between the North Atlantic Oscillation winter index (NAOw) and large zooplankton abundance and between the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the recruitment of cod (Gadus morhua) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Using correlation analyses to direct the addition of environmental drivers to the Irish Sea ecosystem model improved the models fit against observed biomass and catch data and revealed the indirect impacts of environmental change as mitigated through trophic interactions. Model simulations suggest that historic environmental change suppressed the overall production of commercial finfish, limiting opportunities for the fishing industry, whilst also dampening the rate of stock recovery despite marked reductions in fishing effort. These results suggest that failure to account for ecosystem information may lead to misconceived expectations and flawed fisheries management; therefore, there is a need to operationalize ecosystem information through management procedures to support fisheries advice.