Feed conversion efficiency in aquaculture: do we measure it correctly?

Fry, Jillian P.; Mailloux, Nicholas A; Love, David C.; Milli, Michael C; Cao, Ling

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aaa273

Cited by 161 publications

(125 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Although FCR scores are LCI data and as such differ significantly in nature from LCIA results, we found it meaningful to add this parameter to the analysis. The FCR indicates the quantity of feed use per unit of fish produced, and although it has been criticized lately in cross-species efficiency comparison [61], we estimated this parameter to be representative of the overall efficiency of salmonid production systems. It is also a parameter directly linked to the aquafeed process, which is by far the largest contributing component to the life cycle emissions of salmonids [51,54,57].…”

Section: Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Salmonid Aquaculture Production Systems: Status and Perspectives

et al. 2019

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Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector worldwide, mostly driven by a steadily increasing protein demand. In response to growing ecological concerns, life cycle assessment (LCA) emerged as a key environmental tool to measure the impacts of various production systems, including aquaculture. In this review, we focused on farmed salmonids to perform an in-depth analysis, investigating methodologies and comparing results of LCA studies of this finfish family in relation to species and production technologies. Identifying the environmental strengths and weaknesses of salmonid production technologies is central to ensure that industrial actors and policymakers make informed choices to take the production of this important marine livestock to a more sustainable path. Three critical aspects of salmonid LCAs were studied based on 24 articles and reports: (1) Methodological application, (2) construction of inventories, and (3) comparison of production technologies across studies. Our first assessment provides an overview and compares important methodological choices. The second analysis maps the main foreground and background data sources, as well as the state of process inclusion and exclusion. In the third section, a first attempt to compare life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) data across production technologies was conducted using a single factor statistical protocol. Overall, findings suggested a lack of methodological completeness and reporting in the literature and demonstrated that inventories suffered from incomplete description and partial disclosure. Our attempt to compare LCA results across studies was challenging due to confounding factors and poor data availability, but useful as a first step in highlighting the importance of production technology for salmonids. In groups where the data was robust enough for statistical comparison, both differences and mean equalities were identified, allowing ranking of technology clusters based on their average scores. We statistically demonstrated that sea-based systems outperform land-based technology in terms of energy demand and that sea-based systems have a generally higher FCR than land-based ones. Cross-study analytics also strongly suggest that open systems generate on average more eutrophying emissions than closed designs. We further discuss how to overcome bottlenecks currently hampering such LCA meta-analysis. Arguments are made in favor of further developing cross-study LCA analysis, particularly by increasing the number of salmonid LCA available (to improve sample sizes) and by reforming in-depth LCA practices to enable full reproducibility and greater access to inventory data.

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Section: Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Salmonid Aquaculture Production Systems: Status and Perspectives

et al. 2019

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“…Even though these changes might not impact fish growth performance, they affect the nutritional quality of the fish by reducing the levels of the healthy FA, EPA, and DHA in their fillets [21]. Atlantic salmon has been ranked as the most efficient aquaculture production system [22,23], being an important source of protein, omega-3 FA, vitamins, and minerals for human consumption. Atlantic salmon are fed high-lipid diets in commercial production [19].…”

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confidence: 99%

Lipid Deposition and Mobilisation in Atlantic Salmon Adipocytes

Bou

Wang

Todorčević

et al. 2020

IJMS

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The present study aimed to elucidate how Atlantic salmon adipocytes pre-enriched with palmitic (16:0, PA), oleic (18:1n−9, OA), or eicosapentaenoic (20:5n−3, EPA) acid respond to a fasting condition mimicked by nutrient deprivation and glucagon. All experimental groups were supplemented with radiolabeled PA to trace secreted lipids and distribution of radioactivity in different lipid classes. There was a higher content of intracellular lipid droplets in adipocytes pre-enriched with OA than in adipocytes pre-enriched with PA or EPA. In the EPA group, the radiolabeled PA was mainly esterified in phospholipids and triacylglycerols, whereas in the OA and PA groups, the radioactivity was mainly recovered in phospholipids and cholesterol-ester. By subjecting the experimental groups to nutrient-deprived media supplemented with glucagon, lipolysis occurred in all groups, although to a lower extent in the OA group. The lipids were mainly secreted as esterified lipids in triacylglycerols and phospholipids, indicating mobilization in lipoproteins. A significant proportion was secreted as free fatty acids and glycerol. Leptin secretion was reduced in all experimental groups in response to fasting, while the mitochondria area responded to changes in the energy supply and demand by increasing after 3 h of fasting. Overall, different lipid classes in adipocytes influenced their mobilization during fasting.

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“…comm. Intesal – SalmonChile, 2018) and slightly lower than those reported by Tacon and Metian () for these species (1.3 and 1.4, respectively), making salmon one of the most efficient cultured species in terms of feed conversion (Fry, Mailloux, Love, Milli, & Cao, ).…”

Section: A Closer Look To Regional Dynamics: the Case Of Chilementioning

confidence: 74%

“…Such low FIFO ratio (<1) indicates that salmon farming is a net producer of fish protein and oil, as it is using marine ingredients more strategically (IFFO, 2018;Liland et al, 2013;Shepherd & Jackson, 2013). Among the reasons to explain FIFO decreases are the following: (a) the increasing fish meal and fish oil prices, which promotes input substitutions to remain profitable; and (b) the increasing pressure by civil society to improve sustainability of fishery resource use within the aquaculture sector (Shepherd & Jackson, 2013;Tacon & Metian, 2008 3 and 1.4, respectively), making salmon one of the most efficient cultured species in terms of feed conversion (Fry, Mailloux, Love, Milli, & Cao, 2018).…”

Section: Stage 3: the Booming Of Aquaculture And The Turnaroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a blue transition underway?

et al. 2019

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In this study, we describe what we term a Blue Transition, defined as the passage from fish biomass reduction to recovery in exploited aquatic resources, enabled by aquaculture. A Blue Transition is a key component of emergent “blue” discourses which support that the expansion of aquaculture would relieve pressure on declining capture fisheries, thus contributing to global food security, particularly of the poorest populations. Based on global secondary data and the case of Chile, we explore the evidence of such claim and the implications of a Blue Transition for fisheries and aquaculture development. In 2012, worldwide aquaculture production surpassed wild captures; nevertheless, such turnaround would have not taken place without China's contribution. In Chile, this turnaround occurred in 2014, concurrently with the lowest industrial landings registered since the 1960s (1,227,359 tons). Chile's aquaculture is not relieving wild fisheries or satisfying food demands of the lower income population, in the country or elsewhere. Salmon, the main aquaculture product, is destined mainly to Japan, Russia and United States where, due to its high prices, it is consumed mostly by wealthy consumers. For the case at hand, evidence suggests that a blue transition may be underway but is going in the wrong direction: from what may have been sustainable fisheries management before the 1970s to the overexploited wild fisheries of today.

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Feed conversion efficiency in aquaculture: do we measure it correctly?

Cited by 161 publications

References 21 publications

Comparing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Salmonid Aquaculture Production Systems: Status and Perspectives

Comparing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Salmonid Aquaculture Production Systems: Status and Perspectives

Lipid Deposition and Mobilisation in Atlantic Salmon Adipocytes

Is there a blue transition underway?

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