Tuna Nutrition and Feeds: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Aquaculture is providing an ever-increasing proportion of fish in the human food basket prompting a search for new species to expand the range available to consumers. Large tunids/scombrids have long-since been a very valuable resource providing not only high quality protein, but also a rich source of the highly beneficial omega-3 (or n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic and, especially docosahexaenoic acids in the human diet. Consequently, there is considerable interest worldwide in developing the culture of large tunids, including Atlantic northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Nutrition is vital to this development, playing key roles in reproductive success, including the establishment of successful broodstock producing high quality eggs and larvae, and ultimately the cost-effective production of nutritious seafood.This review summarises the rather fragmentary data that compromise the current state-of-theart in relation to tuna nutrition and the development of artificial, formulated feeds for these species. In highlighting the various considerable challenges that feed development will pose, we discuss the future perspectives for tuna culture in terms of both fish and human nutrition and welfare, against the background of diminishing global marine resources.3

The optimum dietary docosahexaenoic acid level based on growth and non-specific immune responses in juvenile rock bream,Oplegnathus fasciatus

“…So far, a massive amount of study has been focused on n‐3 HUFA requirement of marine fish species. DHA is the main material in the phospholipids of the nerve tissues and the retina (Bell, Batty, Dick, Fretwell, Navarro & Sargent ; Koven ; Mourente & Tocher ), and also, it is known to play an important role in marine fish growth (Wu, Ting & Chen ). Numerous studies have reported that more DHA is needed than EPA as an essential fatty acid for growth in marine species (Watanabe, Izquierdo, Takeuchi, Satoh & Kitajima ).…”

Lipid and fatty acid composition, and persistent organic pollutant levels in tissues of migrating Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) broodstock

“…In general, n-3 PUFA are important for somatic growth of marine fish with DHA the most highly retained PUFA in a variety of species (Sargent et al, 2002). Tuna tissues consistently contain relatively high levels of DHA resulting in high DHA:EPA ratios (Mourente et al, 2002;Mourente and Tocher, 2009). In the present study, DHA:EPA ratios were significantly greater in gonads (approx.…”

A Simplified Gas Chromatographic Fatty‐Acid Analysis by the Direct Saponification/Methylation Procedure and Its Application on Wild Tuna Larvae

“…Tuna species are considered unique as they contain high levels of DHA and very high DHA/EPA ratios (Mourente and Tocher, ). The muscles of the young or adult tunas living around Japan showed DHA levels ranging from 25% to 36% (bluefin tuna) (Ishihara and Saito, ), 22% to 36% (yellowfin tuna) (Saito et al, ), 24% to 30% (albacore Thunnus alalunga ) (Murase and Saito, ), and 28% to 34% (bonito Euthynnus pelamis ) (Watanabe et al, ) of the total fatty acids.…”

“…Although Pacific bluefin tuna ( Thunnus orientalis ), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ) and skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) are important species in aquaculture for marine foods (Mourente and Tocher, ), complete knowledge on the biochemical components of wild tuna larvae is not understood to date. Morais et al () suggested adequate provision of DHA is essential for normal development of farmed Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae ( Thunnus thynnus ).…”