The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances and the flesh quality of Pagellus bogaraveo fed with diets containing rice protein concentrate [RPC, 70% crude protein (CP) and 10% ether extract]. Three isoproteic and isoenergetic (CP 47%, 22 MJ/kg DM) diets were formulated with an increasing level of RPC: 0%, 20% and 35%. The fish (mean weight 75 g) from the Messina Straits were randomly distributed in 12 tanks (3 diets x 4 replications, 10 fish/tank). The daily ratio (1.5% of the fish biomass) was updated every 15 days. Biomass gain showed an opposite trend to the RPC diet inclusion. No differences appeared in the somatic indexes. Differences appeared between fatty acid profiles of the dorsal muscle. Fatty acid of series n-6 increased and fatty acid of series n-3 decreased in fillets of fish fed with increasing levels of RPC. The inclusion of RPC in the diets, as a partial replacement of fish meal (20%), is possible without affecting the growth performance and fillet quality.

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Field and laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the intestinal responses to partial replacement of fish meal with rice protein concentrate (RPC) in practical diets for blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo. Two experimental diets were formulated to be isoproteic and isoenergetic with an increasing level of RPC (20 and 35%, respectively) and were tested against a fish meal-based control diet (RPC0). The diets showed similar features for growth performances and both intestinal histology and digestive enzymes. This study confirmed that RPC does not induce intestinal mucosa alterations in this fish. The dietary RPC supplement caused a significant increase in trypsin activity, whereas lipase activity was reduced.

The present review reports the results of two studies carried out at the Institute for the Coastal Marine Environment of Messina (Italy) on the suitability of plant-derived raw materials as dietary components for an innovative fish species for aquaculture, black spot sea bream Pagellus bogaraveo. The research focused on the effects of the use of plant (protein/lipid) dietary sources on growth performance, body composition and gastro-intestinal enzyme patterns in nutrient digestion of wild juveniles of P. bogaraveo. In particular, the effect of a total replacement of Fish oil by Echium and linseed oils and a partial substitution of fish meal with a graded level of Rice Protein Concentrate, will be discussed.

The aim of this paper was to describe the distribution of non-specific immune parameters in two fish species considered as new candidates for aquaculture diversification, greater amberjack and blackspot seabream. In particular, haemolysins, haemagglutinins and lysozyme were investigated to monitor their changes induced by two different stressors: 1) an experimental challenge of greater amberjack with the bacterial pathogen Listonella (Vibrio) anguillarum, which simulated an acute stress condition, and 2) a 14-day starvation period in blackspot seabream, which simulated a chronic stress condition. For each experiment, unstressed fish were kept and sacrificed at the same time intervals to be used as controls. In greater amberjack an increase in lysozyme was detected in challenged fish compared to control ones, while haemolytic activity and haemagglutinating titres showed a depressive effect following to the challenge. In blackspot seabream, starvation resulted in a reduction of lysozyme content in the mucus and plasma, as well as of haemolytic activity. The variations measured in non-specific immune parameters suggest their use as indirect markers of stress or altered health conditions.

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