Monitoring of trace metals, biochemical composition and growth of Axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne Risso, 1827) in offshore Copper alloy net cage

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess trace metal contents, biochemical composition and growth performance of axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne Risso, 1827) cultured in a copper alloy mesh cage. A total of 400 axillary seabream (initial mean weight: 176.0±14.0 g), a new candidate species for the Mediterranean aquaculture, were stocked into a high-density polyethylene frame gravity cage and fed a commercial seabream diet for a period of 6 months. At the end of the feeding trial, fish reached a final weight of 264.8±16.8 g with a weight increase of 88.8 g and a feed conversion rate of 2.51. Overall, relative growth rate, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were satisfactory and comparable to the pelagic fishes such as gilthead seabream or European seabass, which are presently the main fish species for the Mediterranean aquaculture industry. Trace elements in fish grown in copper alloy net cages over a 6-month period showed satisfactory results, as the metal concentrations in fish tissues such as liver, skin, muscle and gills were below the reported upper limits for human consumption, indicating that copper alloy net is an acceptable and safe material for finfish cage aquaculture. Furthermore, from the growth performance data obtained in the present study, it can be concluded that axillary seabream showed potential for cage farming, and thus is a promising new candidate for the Mediterranean aquaculture industry.

Evaluation of Protein Levels in Diets for Salema Porgy (<i>Sarpa salpa</i>) Juveniles, a New Candidate Species for the Mediterranean Aquaculture

“…The maximum SGR (0.51%/day) obtained for salema porgy in the present study was higher than an earlier report on axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne) (0.23%/day) [19], another candidate sparid fish for aquaculture. Korkut and Balkı [20] reported SGR variation of between 0.32 and 1.04%/day for gilthead seabream under commercial cage farm conditions in the Aegean Sea.…”

The Use of Copper Alloy in Aquaculture Fish Net Pens: Mechanical, Economic and Environmental Advantages

“…Ayer et al (2016) suggest that use of copper alloy mesh systems could result in significant reductions in metal emissions to water. According to Yigit et al (2016) trace metals in fish grown in copper alloy mesh cage were below the upper limits for human consumption, supporting the use of copper alloy mesh nets in cage farming.…”

“…The fish net pens made of copper alloy appear to have comparative mechanical, economic and environmental advantages over the conventional polymer ones (Chambers et al, 2012;Aufrecht et al, 2013;Drach, 2013;González et al, 2013;Ayer et al, 2016;Efstathiou et al, 2016;Kalantzi et al, 2016;Yigit et al, 2016;Buyukates et al, 2017). Copper alloy fish nets have higher structural stability.…”

Construction, Assembly and System Deployment of a Fish Cage With Copper Alloy Mesh Pen: Challenging Work Load and Estimation of Man-Power

“…Besides the mechanical, economic or environmental advantages of copper alloy mesh compared to the traditional nylon nettings (Chambers et al, 2012;Aufrecht et al, 2013;Drach, 2013;González et al, 2013;Ayer et al, 2016;Efstathiou et al, 2016;Kalantzi et al, 2016;Yigit et al, 2016;Buyukates et al, 2017;Yigit et al, 2017Yigit et al, , 2018, and the higher structural stability of the copper alloy nets exposed to high energy water conditions assuring volumetric integrity in the cage environment and preventing deformation on the structure (Berillis et al, 2017), the construction and assembly of the new technology mesh pens and moreover forming the material into a fish cage is a new challange still remaining as a question to be answered and an issue that might interest fish cage producers and net manufacturers. Moving cage aquaculture to more exposed sites has brought cage farmers to re-consider materials and equipment for cost effective production with higher economic benefits and production of healthier fish.…”