This paper explores consumer understanding and perception of organic food, with specific reference to the relatively new concept of organic farmed salmon. Key themes associated with the term “organic” and its meaning, as determined by consumers, are explored and the role of labelling and regulatory authorities considered. Focus groups in five countries (UK, Germany, Spain, Norway and France) consisting of 196 participants showed that most consumers are confused about the meaning of the term organic and are largely unaware of the organic certification and labelling process. Many consumers were unsure, even sceptical about the concept of organic farmed salmon and display a large amount of distrust in the regulatory process. The implications for the concept of organic food and salmon production and directions for further research are discussed.

We studied the effects of a lactic acid bacterium, Pediococcus acidilactici (strain MA 18/5M, CNCM), as a dietary probiotic on growth performance and some nutritional and microbiological aspects of the shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris. Experimental shrimp culture was carried out over 10 weeks, using floating cages of 14 m2 each set in earthen ponds, in a New Caledonia farm affected by "Summer syndrome", a septicaemic vibriosis caused by Vibrio nigripulchritudo. The experiment design testing probiotic-coated pellets against control was replicated in two earthen ponds. High mortalities, characteristic of Summer syndrome, were observed during the first 2 weeks of the trial. The probiotic improved production in the treated cages from both ponds with increases in the survival rate (7% and 15% respectively) and final biomass (8% and 12% respectively). No differences were recorded among treatments on growth performances, but significant lower food conversion ratios were obtained with probiotic treatment. After 5 weeks of rearing, the Hepatosomatic Index and the adjusted dry weight of the digestive gland were significantly increased by 10% and by 9% respectively in shrimps treated with probiotic. In the meantime, the specific activities of greek small letter alpha amylase and trypsin in the digestive gland showed a significant effect of the probiotic treatment with respective increases by 35% and 55%. The rise in total trypsin activity following morning feeding was also enhanced by the probiotic treatment (P < 0.001).The highest concentration of probiotic (between 104-105 CFU g− 1 of fresh gut) in the shrimp gut was obtained 2 h after feeding. The concentration remained high for 4 h after feeding before decreasing until the next meal. Total bacterial counts on Marine agar and TCBS in the gut were significantly lowered by the probiotic treatment over the 10 weeks of the experiment. Additionally, during the first 2 weeks, prevalence and load of V. nigripulchritudo strains in haemolymph was lower in animals fed with the probiotic diet.This study demonstrated, under pond conditions, that feeding shrimp with live terrestrial lactic acid bacteria can be an effective treatment for improving shrimp culture affected by vibriosis.

Five diets were formulated to provide an isoproteic daily dietary intake of 15 g kg−1 day−1, while maintaining daily starch intake ranging from 0 to 40 g kg−1 day−1. The 4‐week experiments started with initial mean weights of 4.7 and 4.4 g for Pangasius bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively. The results clearly show the protein sparing action of starch in both species. Best protein retention was obtained with starch intake of 20 and 10 g kg−1 day−1 for P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively, which was equivalent to 40 and 20% starch in the feed. Pangasius bocourti and P. hypophthalmus fingerlings attained maximal growth with starch intake of 30 and 10 g kg−1 day−1, equivalent to 60 and 20% starch in the feed. It was noted that body lipid accumulation was much higher in P. bocourti than in P. hypophthalmus, and that excess dietary starch intake depressed diet digestibility and growth.

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