Development of Alternative Renewable Sources of Essential Fatty Acids Derived from Marine Bacteria for Use in Fish Feed

Summary:
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA’s) are an essential component of a fish’s diet. This project examined the use of culturable marine bacteria as an alternative and renewable source of PUFA’s. Marine bacteria were examined for their potential to be used both as a direct source of PUFA’s in fish feed and for their ability to colonize the fish gut and produce PUFA’s in vivo. Four strains were tested for their ability to increase the synthesis of PUFA’s under modified growth conditions. However none of these strains yielded sufficient increases to consider them as a significant source of biomass for feed supplementation. Colonization trials with two of the most promising strains, showed continued presence in the stomach and small intestine for 4-5 days following a 1 week feeding period with bacterially supplemented feed. While the presence in the gut tissues were low and unlikely to support substantial synthesis of PUFA’s for nutritive value to the fish, this initial trial presents evidence that colonization is possible and may require refinement of dosage and application strategy in order to increase the presence of these microbes in the gut to nutritionally relevant levels. This project is a first step towards an alternative feeding strategy that will result in the improved environmental performance of feeding practices.

Project Lead: Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

Total Project Cost: $146,000
           
DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $106,000

Other Financial Support:

• Proponent: Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
• Northeast Nutrition Inc.

For more information, please contact the regional coordinator:
Maritimes Region Coordinator, Cindy.Webster@dfo-mpo.gc.ca