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Physiology Data - Developing diets and feeding strategies for improved growth and
performance of juvenile and adult sablefish
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Feed costs and time to harvest are key factors affecting the economic viability of
domestic sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture. Use of fast growing all-female
monosex stocks dramatically reduces time to harvest, but our research to date indicates
that the commercial salmon feeds typically used by industry are not optimally formulated
for sablefish and there is still a high degree of potential for improved growth and
feed conversion. The effects of dietary balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate
on productive performance, growth and feed conversion at any post-juvenile stage of
development are unknown, and there are no commercial diets specifically formulated
for sablefish aquaculture in the marketplace. Dietary nutrient imbalances combined
with inappropriate feeding schedules and strategies contribute to poor nutrient utilization
and are unlikely to fully support the growth potential of this species, impeding continued
efforts to improve performance during grow-out to harvest. Thus, research activity
focuses on establishing performance optimized diets and feeding strategies that support
maximum growth, efficient feed conversion and other economically important traits
such as fillet yield.
Informaion on tissues collected and physiological measures (e.g., plasma steroid levels)
may be available.
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