Aquaculture Nutrition

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing primary industries in the world. As the industry expands, increasing importance is being placed on the development of economical and nutritious diets for aquaculture species, since food comprises up to 60 percent of farm costs.
The demand for high-quality fishmeal a major component of aquaculture diets currently worth $1350 per tonne is expected to rise dramatically over the next five years. The Asian prawn industry alone currently requires one million tonnes of feed annually, while in 1996 Australias farmed prawns consumed 4,000 tonnes of feed costing $6 million 50 percent of which was imported. However, world supplies of fishmeal, composed of whole caught fish or fisheries waste, are static and vulnerable to fluctuations; 50 percent of fishmeal is produced by a single fishery in Peru whose output is heavily influenced by the El Nio effect. Increasing competition for these limited supplies will inevitably increase the cost of fishmeal. It is therefore imperative for countries with growing aquaculture industries such as Australia to explore alternative food sources to fishmeal, as well as to develop more nutritious diets for aquaculture species. As farming methods become more intensive, the food given to animals must not only include all the necessary nutrients, but also provide them in an attractive and palatable form that ensures rapid consumption and minimal environmental impact. including the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Aquaculture, the Queensland and Tasmanian Departments of Primary Industry, the Universities of Queensland and Tasmania, Shellfish Culture and Ridley Agriproducts Pty Ltd (Australias largest feed manufacturer). Much of CSIROs research efforts are supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Meat Research Council. Australia has an excellent record of agricultural research which has enabled the intensive production of meat to compete successfully in price and quality on the world market. For Australian aquaculture to emulate this success, it is essential for researchers to identify the nutritional ingredients farmed animals require for optimal growth and survival at all stages, as well to as determine the extent to which locally available foods can be used to reduce costs.

Growth in Global Food Production

Population Rice Wheat Maize Pulses Soybeans Beef & Veal Pig meat Population Poultry meat Milk Hen Eggs Marine Fisheries Aquaculture 0 2 4 6 8 10

CSIRO Aquaculture Nutrition Project

The CSIRO Marine Researchs Aquaculture and Biotechnology Program has launched a Nutrition Project to develop better foods and feeding methods for aquaculture animals - which will both improve the cost-effectiveness of Australian aquaculture, and minimise its environmental impact on land and waterways. Advances in areas such as the manufacture of fishmeal substitutes could also establish new export industries for Australia. In order to achieve these goals, CSIRO scientists are currently engaged in collaborative research ventures with a number of partners,

Growth (% per year)

CSIRO MARINE RESEARCH HELPING US UNDERSTAND OUR OCEANS

As aquaculture animals such as prawns, oysters and salmon each display widely different food preferences at different stages of their life cycles, understanding the requirements of even one species can be an enormous undertaking. The Nutrition Project is currently focusing research efforts on three main areas.

Phytoplankton as food for larvae and oysters

Microalgae and other forms of phytoplankton are the first food for many larvae of aquatic animals, as well as the main source of nutrients for all life stages of molluscs such as oysters. Researchers are now identifying the nutrient composition of Australian phytoplankton and assessing their suitability as feed supplements for juvenile oysters. This research, along with the development of microalgae-based diets, is being watched closely by industry, who see such methods as very useful ways to accelerate the production of oysters and juvenile abalone. Daily growth rates of oysters fed with microalgae supplements have improved by 60 percent.

Parallel studies are investigating Australian-produced protein sources as partial replacements for expensive imported fishmeal in prawn and barramundi diets. Australia has an established livestock feeds industry that is well-placed to meet the requirements of the aquaculture industry. Already, a number of feed mills have been established to meet domestic markets and to capitalise on Australias abundance of terrestrial feed ingredients in developing aquaculture diets. As well as prawns, research is being done on the nutrient requirements of salmon, silver perch and barramundi to assess the digestibility of a range of fishmeal replacements. These include meatmeals and plant proteins such as soybeans, canola, lupins and wheat glutens. Researchers are also exploring ways to ensure that fishmeal substitutes contain enough attractants to make them palatable to fish and prawns.

Use of stable isotopes for determining the utilisation of food ingredients

Innovative research methods such as stable isotope tracers are being used to measure how quickly and effectively aquaculture animals digest and utilise particular food ingredients. As each ingredient has a unique isotopic label, utilisation of the food by the animal results in subtle changes in its isotopic label which can be used to quantify how efficiently the food is being assimilated. Undigested food that passes from the animal as waste matter can also be traced through the environmental food web, allowing assessment of its impact on the pond ecosystem.

Development of formulated diets for prawns, lobsters and finfish

Scientists are quantifying the key nutrient requirements of prawns (particularly essential amino acids and fatty acids) and lobsters to define dietary specifications which will ensure optimum growth and performance. Particular attention is being given to protein, energy and fatty acid requirements.

For more information contact Kevin Williams, ph (07) 3826 7284, fax (07) 3826 7222 Katherine Johnson (Communication Unit), ph (03) 6232 5113, fax (03) 6232 5055 http://www.marine.csiro.au/aquaculture/

Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 Phone (03) 6232 5222 Fax (03) 6232 5000 233 Middle Street, Cleveland, Queensland 4163 Phone (07) 3826 7200 Fax (07) 3826 7222 Leach Street, Marmion, Western Australia 6020 Phone (08) 9422 8200 Fax (08) 9422 8222

04/April 1999