Clean Seas manages its farming operations using global best practice methods to grow world-class, high-quality Yellowtail Kingfish.Photo

Dietary Changes for More Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture

AUSTRALIA
Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

As the cost of fish oil continues to rise, Australian aquaculture operators are searching for safe and sustainable alternatives for formulating healthy feed to support the commercial production of popular yellowtail kingfish. A South Australian study led by Flinders University, funded through a grant awarded to the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), evaluated the use of alternative oils, such as canola oil and poultry oil, in the diet of farmed kingfish.

“Reducing the use of wild-caught sardines and other small fish as feed for farmed fish will help sustain ocean ecosystems and fishery food chains,” says Associate Professor James Harris from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.

Fish oil, which contains high levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, is essential for the growth and health of cultured carnivorous finfish. However, the growing demand for fish oil in both aquaculture and terrestrial animal feeds is expected to exceed current production levels by 460% by 2030, significantly driving up costs.

“We cannot continue catching large quantities of small fish to feed larger farmed fish,” explains Associate Professor Harris. “Instead, we need to look for ways to reduce the amount of fish oil in their diets.”

The study, conducted by researchers from Flinders University, SARDI, and the University of Adelaide's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, explored the viability of using canola oil and poultry oil as substitutes in the diets of locally farmed kingfish. While both oils were found to be effective, the researchers observed some potentially adverse effects on the livers of the fish.

“These findings offer an opportunity to further investigate fat metabolism in kingfish and to refine feed formulations to support the growth of these popular fish, which are also farmed in Japan, Europe, and the Americas,” adds Associate Professor Harris.

Yellowtail Kingfish was actually little known in Australia in 2002. That’s when Clean Seas began farming Yellowtail Kingfish in its native waters of South Australia

Previous research on aquafeed has experimented with various alternatives, including soybean oil and animal fats from swine, cattle, or sheep, to achieve optimal growth, lipid metabolism, and palatability of alternative feeds.

The study, titled “Liver structure and function in yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, in response to alternative oils in feed” (2024) by Benjamin H. Crowe, James O. Harris, Todd J. McWhorter, Matthew S. Bansemer, and David A.J. Stone, has been published in Aquaculture (DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741379).

Acknowledgements: This project was supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its $6 million Rural R&D for Profit Programme, and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The grant was awarded to SARDI, the research arm of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), in partnership with Flinders University, the University of Adelaide's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, and other collaborators.

Source:  Flinders University Press Release

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