Boosting omega-3 production

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector due to long-term exploitation of wild fish populations. However, there is still some way to go in designing and supplementing aquaculture feedstock for optimal nutritional value.

In particular, there is a need to improve levels of omega-3 fatty acids (such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)). The EU-funded 'Maximizing marine omega-3 retention in farmed fish: Sustainable production of healthy food' (OMEGA3MAX) project is investigating ways to optimise fish diets for omage-3 fatty acid content.

Researchers studied 12 antioxidant substances as dietary supplements for farmed Atlantic salmon. Two of these enhanced EPA and DHA concentration in the fillets and livers of the fish, compared to antioxidant-free diets.

They also showed that two of the substances tested enhanced levels of tocopherol (related to vitamin E), and decreased liver damage in the farmed fish.

Another area of project work resulted in development of a method to trace test substances from feed to fish tissue. This method will be applied to better understand how fish metabolise these compounds.

The OMEGA3MAX project will not only improve our understanding of fish physiology, it is also likely to have a positive impact on aquaculture. This is hugely important as society moves away from wild fish and towards farmed fish for food.