Wrasse, in this case Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta), is unusual in that it is being farmed to eat sea lice rather than for eating. Several teams in Norway, also in Scotland, Ireland, Russia, and this year in Canada are working to develop commercial rearing of this species. The European teams receive funding from Ecofish, a part of the European Union (EU) Northern Periphery Programme that is encouraging environment-friendly fish farming. Small numbers of wrasse will be introduced into pens with Atlantic salmon as a biological control, contributing to effective management of sea lice. Kathrine Lunde, a Skretting Product Manager in Norway, describes the feeds Skretting is providing. “Taste is important in feed for wrasse. For the broodstock we are using our Vitalis Cal and Vitalis Repro feeds. We bind the feed pellets into small blocks, with extra moisture and ingredients to increase the attraction. For the larvae our latest range of Gemma marine hatchery feeds with algal ingredients works well. Their high protein content seems to suit the wrasse.”
The blackspot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) is a deep water fish popular for eating in several countries, especially around the Mediterranean. Yields from the wild catch were dropping, and are subject to quotas, which encouraged one company in Spain, Isidro de la Cal, to try farming. However, it proved more difficult than its relative the gilthead sea bream. Attempts to overcome the problems, with support from the EU EUREKA project, led the company to look for external expertise. For feeds they turned to Skretting. Fernando Sanz, the commercial manager of Skretting España introduced them to Skretting ARC. Skretting specialists in Spain and Norway then ran a series of trials with feeds based a variety of raw materials. “The result,” says Sanz, “is a high energy formulation that enables the blackspot bream to grow faster than in the wild. We named it Blackspot Power and are producing it as a commercial product.” The farm is now supplying black spot bream at competitive prices to supermarkets in Spain.
Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) has the potential to transform Mediterranean aquaculture says Roberto Agonigi, marine sales manager of Skretting in Italy. “It is fast growing and suited for sale as whole fish, processed into products such as fillets and steaks and the firm, low-fat flesh is also suited to meet a growing demand for sushi and sashimi. Like salmon, it can be presented as a healthy option because it is low in fat and the fats that are present are the good fats.” Agonigi describes European developments. “In the past few years around the Mediterranean we have seen several start up projects with amberjack in Italy, Greece, Malta and Spain. We are involved because our Gemma marine hatchery feeds proved ideal, with their high protein content suiting these fast growing fish. Naturally we can also supply appropriate feed for ongrowing.” Amberjack in the Mediterranean is a relative of Pacific and Indian Ocean species, Seriola quinqueradiata, farmed as yellowtail or amberjack in Japan and South Korea, and Seriola lalandi, farmed as kingfish in Australia. There are further amberjack projects in Saudi Arabia (S. dumerili, with 400 broodfish), South Africa and Chile.
Photo captions
Ballan wrasse is being farmed to eat sea lice rather than for eating
Amberjack has great potential for aquaculture in the Mediterranean
