Lipids and essential fatty acids, particularly the highly unsaturated fatty acids, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA), 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA) and 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA) have been shown to be crucial determinants of marine fish reproduction directly affecting fecundity, egg quality, hatching success, larval malformation and pigmentation. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) culture, eggs from farmed broodstock can have much lower fertilisation and hatching rates than eggs from wild broodstock. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that potential quality and performance differences between eggs from different cod broodstock would be reflected in differences in lipid and fatty acid composition. Thus eggs were obtained from three broodstock, farmed, wild/fed and wild/unfed, and lipid content, lipid class composition, fatty acid composition and pigment content were determined and related to performance parameters including fertilisation rate, symmetry of cell division and survival to hatching. Eggs from farmed broodstock showed significantly lower fertilisation rates, cell symmetry and survival to hatching rates than eggs from wild broodstock. There were no differences in total lipid content or the proportions of the major lipid classes between eggs from the different broodstock. However, eggs from farmed broodstock were characterised by having significantly lower levels of some quantitatively minor phospholipid classes, particularly phosphatidylinositol. There were no differences between eggs from farmed and wild broodstock in the proportions of saturated, monounsaturated and total polyunsaturated fatty acids. The DHA content was also similar. However, eggs from farmed broodstock had significantly lower levels of AA, and consequently significantly higher EPA/AA ratios than eggs from wild broodstock. Total pigment and astaxanthin levels were significantly higher in eggs from wild broodstock. Therefore, the levels of AA and phosphatidylinositol, the predominant AA-containing lipid class, and egg pigment content were positively related to egg quality or performance parameters such as fertilisation and

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The gross, histological and scanning electron microscopic appearance of dorsal fin rot in farmed Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L. is described. The lesions were grouped into seven categories: (1) peripheral erosion and ray splitting; (2) peripheral erosion with some nodularity; (3) severe nodularity with differing degrees of tissue loss; (4) extensive to total loss of the dorsal fin; (5) smooth thickening of the dorsal fin; (6) haemorrhagic dorsal fin lesions; and (7) healed dorsal fin rot lesions. The main sign of injury was clefts extending through the epithelium. These injuries were consistent with bites from other parr. During healing from such wounds, damaged cells sloughed from the surface, and there was swelling and hyperplasia in the remaining cells. The majority of the thickening in the fins was the result of epithelial hyperplasia with a variable cellular inflammatory response. The distal epithelium of fins with severe fin rot (i.e. nodular and eroded) was rough, irregular and swollen with superficial nodular extensions. Wounds in all stages of repair were more numerous in such areas. Fin rays were frequently observed protruding from the abnormal epithelium at the distal edge of the fin. With the exception of the isolation of Aeromonas salmonicida from a small number of cases, no significant bacterial involvement was detected. Under scanning electron microscopy, bacteria were only detected on the exposed fin rays and not in association with the abnormal epithelium. In the majority of cases, the dorsal fin was either the only fin damaged or the most severely damaged. It is suggested that the hyperplastic response to numerous bite wounds is responsible for the accumulation of abnormal epithelium typical of dorsal fin rot in farmed Atlantic salmon parr.

26This study investigated the effect on egg quality of dietary supplementation of 27 Atlantic cod broodstock with the carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). Duplicate groups of 28 farm-reared Atlantic cod broodstock were fed either a control diet with no added 29 ASTA, or an ASTA supplemented diet (73.7 mg/kg dry weight; Carophyll Pink®) for 30 2 months prior to peak spawning. The results indicated that ASTA uptake into eggs 31 from the broodstock diet was highly efficient.

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The winter distributions of mesopelagic fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods across the Subtropical Convergence east of New Zealand are shown to reflect the hydrological changes associated with convergence of Subtropical and Subantarctic Surface Waters. Samples collected in the upper 400 m in each of these water masses and in mixed water over the Chatham Rise contained members of faunal associations apparently characteristic for each area. The area of strongest hydrological change was characterised, at least for fishes and crustaceans, by a considerable decrease in species richness. Use of cluster analysis confirmed the clear correpondence between geographic species associations and water masses.