Effect of different feed formulations on feed efficiency, gonad yield and gonad quality in the purple sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma

The nutritive values of three pelleted prepared diets, based on animal (AP), vegetable (VP) and yeast protein (YP) were studied for the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Val.). Fresh macroalga Ulva australis was used as a natural control diet. Triplicate groups of five animals were fed one of the four diets ad libitum every second day for 85 days. Sea urchins fed pelleted feeds had significantly higher food consumption rates (dry basis) and significantly lower total and protein absorption efficiencies compared with the algal diet. The gonad yield and gonad production efficiency in sea urchins fed the natural diet were significantly higher compared with initial group (gonad yield only) and urchins fed animal and vegetable diets, but did not differ significantly from those of the animals fed the yeast diet. Percent protein and lipid in the gonads were not affected by the dietary source. The taste and smell of gonads were generally better in sea urchins collected from the wild or fed yeast and natural diets than in sea urchins fed animal and vegetable diets. The animal protein diet was the most stable in seawater while the yeast protein diet had the poorest water stability. The results of this study suggest that development of a more stable, single‐cell, protein‐based diet has a potential to promote gonad production of H. erythrogramma.