Behavior Data - The effect of dietary taurine on feed attraction and physiology of carnivorous marine fish

As the global population continues to rise, so does the demand for sustainable sources of protein. The worldwide harvest of wild fish has remained flat for three decades and is unable to meet demands. Increased supplies of seafood are going to have to come from aquaculture that is both environmentally sustainable and commercially successful. Traditional use of fishmeal as the primary source of protein in aquaculture feeds is partially being replaced by soy and corn. Fishmeal, however, is still one of the most expensive ingredients in aquaculture feeds. Traditionally fishmeal comes from the harvest of forage fish such as herring, sardine, and anchovy. This puts competitive pressure on this limited resource since wild populations of commercially important species such as salmon and tuna depend on these fish for food. Currently, aquaculture feeds formulated without fish protein do not perform as well as those that do. This study seeks to improve performance of diets with all-plant protein by examining several questions using sablefish as an experimental model for carnivorous, coldwater, marine species.

What are some potential additives that may make plant-based feeds more attractive to farmed fish?

Does a taurine deficiency affect response to feed attractants?

Taurine has been identified as a conditionally essential amino acid that is necessary to add to plant-based feeds to improve growth and quality of sablefish. Is there an change in variability in growth between individuals in responses to dietary levels of taurine? Some carnivores are not able to synthesize taurine and must obtain it through their diet. Sablefish appear to have a limited ability to synthesize taurine, though it appears to vary between individuals. This study will characterize the variation in gene expression enzymes active in three possible taurine biosynthesis pathways in fish.

This study will build on and expand cooperative work between NOAA and the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute (NFRDI), of South Korea, currently underway and funded by the US-Korea, Joint Coordination Panel for Aquaculture Cooperation (JPA). It will address these questions through use of behavioural studies, analysis of amino acid composition in fish tissues and whole bodies, and employ genetic expression of important enzymes to taurine synthesis in the liver. This research will enhance our limited understanding of the role that taurine and other amino acids play in growth and feeding of sablefish. This will help us improve the nutritional content and performance of an all-plant aquaculture diet and may then be used in improving formulations of aquaculture feeds that will be more efficient, less expensive, more environmentally sustainable and improve fish quality.
Observational data from behavior experiments.

Tags: alternative feeds, doc/noaa/nmfs/nwfsc, efs (environmental and fisheries sciences) division, national marine fisheries service, noaa. u.s. department of commerce, northwest fisheries science center, sablefish, taurine, video camera
Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce