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The use of antimicrobials is essential for the aquaculture sector; however, their misuse is cause for concern because it could adversely affect the environment and human health. Irresponsible use of antimicrobials can lead to antimicrobial resistance and result in the presence of unwanted residues in aquaculture products. The establishment of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for antimicrobials is of great importance for monitoring their correct use, but the lack of harmonized standards as well as the regulatory gaps for the aquatic products create a challenging situation, as it is reflected in import notifications related to food safety. This paper collects information about current MRLs for antimicrobials in aquatic commodities in the main importing and exporting countries of aquatic products and compares them with each other and with MRLs set by Codex Alimentarius. This analysis highlighted the need for Codex Alimentarius guidance regarding MRLs for nine antimicrobials in aquaculture products (chlortetracycline, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, sulfadimethoxine + ormetoprim, sulfamerazine, tetracycline, and trimethoprim). This paper shows that there is still work to do to implement exhaustive science‐based international standards for residues permitted in aquatic commodities and promote harmonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mariculture has not fundamentally reduced its dependence on resources and the environment; ecological and economic efficiency has become an important target of concern for the sustainable and healthy development of China's mariculture industry. Environmental regulation (ER) is a core tool to realize the synergistic development of economic development and environmental resource protection in mariculture. In this paper, the provincial panel data of China's coastal areas from 2007 to 2020 was selected, and the level of ecological and economic efficiency of mariculture in different provinces of China was measured by using the super slacks‐based measurement–data envelopment analysis model considering the undesirable output of mariculture, and the impact of different ERs on ecological and economic efficiency was explored. It was found that the impacts of different ER methods on the eco‐economic efficiency (EEF) of mariculture may be non‐linearized, and there is also regional heterogeneity in the optimal choice and combination of ER methods to improve the EEF of mariculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing level of precision and intelligence in the aquaculture, real-time mastery of the growth status of aquaculture individuals has become an important means to improve aquaculture efficiency and save resources and the environment. Therefore, accurate individual recognition of underwater fish has become one of the key technologies for precision aquaculture. In order to cope with the impact of the complex underwater environment on the recognition accuracy, this paper proposes a coarse and fine-grained features learning method for individual fish recognition. The method consists of a coarse-grained feature learning network and two fine-grained feature learning networks. The trunk of the network is responsible for learning coarse-grained features of the fish, the first branch learns fine-grained features of fish from head, body, and tail, and the second branch learns fine-grained features of fish from upper and lower fins. we supplemented different levels of noise and attack to the training set of fine-grained features and enriched the grayscale variation to cope with the complexity and variability of the underwater environment. The simulation experimental results show that the method achieves more than 96.7% in key indicators such as Rank-1 and Rank-5, and also performs well in other fish recognition tasks with certain generalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquaculture industry will be crucial in helping the world's food supply and keep up with the demand. Aquaculture, like agriculture, must expand and develop sustainably in all the countries to keep up with the rising demand for food. To this end, the aquaculture industry has forged new scientific and technological frontiers in pursuit of long‐term food security. Among these is organic aquaculture, whose distinctive protocol has great potential to advance aquaculture. Organic aquaculture is being explored for multiple reasons, encompassing the aim to minimize environmental footprints, fulfill escalating consumer appetites for seafood, and contend within the industry this paper endeavors to address the gaps in current literature by offering an exhaustive overview of various aspects of organic aquaculture. This encompasses its regulation, production methods, food quality, environmental impact, economic viability, as well as socioeconomic and marketing aspects. It is necessary to acquire more knowledge about organic farming techniques before switching over to organic aquaculture on a large scale. Organic regulation, production, food quality, economic performance, and social and marketing issues are at the top. This review found that consumers lack understanding of organic principles, and regulations are inconsistently applied. However, organic aquaculture promotes social equality by protecting producers' rights to work without discrimination based on gender, race, or sexual orientation factors that ultimately boost the industry's popularity. Organic aquaculture viability varies depending on factors like feed costs, fixed expenses, and the premium pricing sensitivity, making it unfeasible for certain species. However, from both societal and economic standpoints, organic aquaculture appears most suitable for implementation in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study conducted to address biosecurity and DNA quality issues in abalone aquaculture using Whatman FTA Elute Microcards. The reagent present on this cards, together with the cotton paper, form a chemically treatedmatrix optimized for biosafety through the inclusion of nuclease inhibitors and antimicrobial agents. Two adult Haliotis rubra were collected from a commercial farm in Tasmania for the study. It was found that DNA quantity and quality varied widely between the samples. The sequence and genotype results of FTAs-extracted DNA conformed to those observed from the routine commercial extraction method used for the study.

The article offers an information for the issue of the journal "Aquaculture Research" regarding various aspects includes editors of the issue, editorial board members, aims and scope of the journal, and information for subscribers. It gives guidelines for the authors to publish the research paper including the manuscript format, main text, and proofs.

It is important that we should encounter the accurate use of statistical methodologies in aquacultural research. To assess the quality of statistical use in aquaculture, a sample of papers published between 1981 and 1991 was examined from two aquacultural research journals. A total of 180 papers were screened with regard to the chosen study design, the data description, the choice of sample, the analysis methods used and the presentation and interpretation of results based on the statistical methods employed. The results of this examination demonstrated that only a small number of papers contained fully informative statistical expositions. Designs of studies were often only partially described and insufficient summaries of collected data were frequently given. Incomplete analyses and poor presentation of results also occurred frequently. Interpretations of statistical results were not always satisfactory, some papers instead discussing results from alternative studies. Basic requirements for the description of statistical inputs in scientific literature are emphasized and a list of publications is given recommending statistical techniques appropriate for aquacultural research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, European Union (EU27) member states have held sway over the administration of aquaculture sectors. However, challenges have arisen within this regulatory framework, particularly concerning the implementation of sustainable conservation measures across the EU27 region. In response to perceived regulatory shortcomings, alternative strategies like economic and community‐based management have emerged. Thus, this study aims to investigate how global governance factors have influenced the growth of the aquaculture industry within the European Union (EU13) and European Union (EU14) from 1990 to 2023. To address endogeneity concerns, robust least squares, two‐stage least squares (2SLS), and ordinary least squares estimators were employed, yielding significant findings. Notably, the impact analysis reveals that property rights, economic stability, private sector quality, and private interest are pivotal drivers of aquaculture industry growth in EU14 developed countries compared to their EU13 developing counterparts. Conversely, the novelty of the paper shows that economic growth, social development, and aquaculture industry advancement hold greater significance in EU13 developing countries relative to EU14 developed ones, as indicated by the estimators. Given these insights, policymakers in EU13 developing countries are urged to prioritize initiatives aimed at fortifying property rights, economic stability, and private interest. Conversely, policymakers in EU14 developed countries are encouraged to focus on fostering economic growth, enhancing public sector quality, and promoting social development in blue farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in the cultivation of wolffish arose in recent years due to their high-quality meat and fast growth in captivity. In wolffish, an almost juvenile organism, more than 20 mm long, hatches from the egg and can be fed dry pellets just after that. This makes the technology for wolffish breeding much simpler than for other marine fishes, even salmonids. This paper is devoted to common wolffish, Anarhichas lupus L., as the captive breeding of this species has been studied most completely. Experience with broodstock management, insemination, incubation of eggs, start feeding, and growth of rearing juveniles until maturation is described, based mainly on investigations made in Norway and in the Russian Federation. The conditions for obtaining maximum production in the shortest time are assessed. Prospects for using wolffish in aquaculture are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culture of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, is constrained by the high mortality of fry, occasioning a shortage of high-quality seeds for stocking by farmers. Asia, a continent with many success stories for aquaculture, leads in farmed production of some catfishes, a diverse group of 37 different families. Globally, the culture of catfishes ranks fifth in global farmed finfish production. Globally, Vietnam leads in the production and export of farmed striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, with 1,400,000 tonnes produced annually from about 7,000 hectares. Similarly, China farmed the non-native Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, into the major crop, with a current annual production of 250,000 tonnes. On the contrary, C. gariepinus, the main farmed catfish species in Africa, records low annual yields, with 240,000 tonnes for the whole continent. This paper explores the factors behind the high production of P. hypophthalmus and I. punctatus in Vietnam and China, respectively, and draws lessons for C. gariepinus farmers in Africa. Specifically, the use of differentiated hatchery and nursery husbandry practices was critical in boosting seed production, quantity, availability, and distribution for expanding the culture of P. hypophthalmus in Vietnam. Improvement of fish species through well-designed genetic improvement programs helped China substantially increase production of I. punctatus. For both species, intensive fish production, as well as the adoption and implementation of suitable policies, increased seed production from hatcheries in both countries. These are discussed as some of the factors that spurred catfish production in the two Asian countries. We argue that if these are adopted by farmers in Africa, they could help improve the production of farmed C. gariepinus on the continent for food and nutrition security as well as generation of livelihood for local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of production, seabream and seabass are the two most important species of marine Mediterranean aquaculture, which is why they have been extensively studied in the literature. This study uses visualization analysis with the CiteSpace software to determine the research status quo and the most important trends of seabream and seabass aquaculture research. The Web of Science (WoS) database was used to select the papers associated with seabream and seabass literature from the period between 1986 and 2020. The results were separated using two indices (Science Citation Index Expand and Social Science Citation Index). The visualization analysis identified the networks for (1) author, institution, country and category co‐authorship, in order to find the most prolific authors, institutions, countries and categories respectively; and (2) journal, document and author co‐citation, which identifies the most relevant journals, the most important studies and the most cited and influential authors. Finally, a keywords co‐occurrence network was built to identify the most important topics and the research frontiers—body of knowledge—of the seabream and seabass aquaculture research—SSAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae have apposition eyes and are positively phototactic, whereas the postlarvae (PL) have superposition eyes and are negatively phototactic. M. rosenbergii has colour vision as early as larval stage. We discovered that M. rosenbergii alters background colour preference after metamorphosis from larvae to PL in association with nature of phototaxis. The test circular glass aquaria covered with a pair of two‐colour papers contained with a group of 100 larvae or 20 Pl, and the number of individuals in each colour background was recorded five times for each colour pair. The background colours tested were light blue, green, yellow, red, white and black. The numbers of larvae or PL in each colour background of different pairs were analysed by the Thurstone's law of comparative judgment. In the larvae, significant bias towards yellow was evident. In the PL, of the four pairings of black with other colours, all biased to black. The mean z‐scores were highest for yellow in the larvae, and for black in the PL. To determine the possible background brightness preference of the larvae and PL, six different colour backgrounds were presented in pairs. The larvae significantly preferred light blue over dark blue, white over yellow and white over black. The PL exhibited reversed preference. The relationship between z‐scores and light reflectance levels of five colour papers was significantly positive in the larvae and negative in the PL. The observed background colour preference was probably due to relative brightness rather than chromaticity difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The below article, published online on Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com) has been retracted by agreement between the submitting author, Mohammad Sadegh Aramli, the Editors, Ronald Hardy, Lindsay Ross, Shi‐Yen Shiau, Marc Verdegem, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. After a thorough investigation, there is strong evidence to indicate that the peer review of this paper was compromised. The identities of the reviewers were unable to be verified and it is believed that the paper was accepted based on recommendations from reviewers not suitably qualified. REFERENCE Aramli, M. S., & Kalbassi, M. R. (2016). Antioxidant characteristics of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) seminal plasma did not show significant changes during in vitro storage (48 hr at 4°C). Aquaculture Research doi:  https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13204 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/are.13204/abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture wastewater has become a global concern, especially to the aquatic environment. Aquaculture industries rely on the consumption of water and generate an abundant amount of wastewater. Aquaculture wastewater has characteristics of high organic materials and nutrients. However, the potential of resource reclamation from this wastewater awaits to be explored further. Aquaculture wastewater contains algae, which can be harvested using biodegradable coagulants for further utilization. It is also nutrient‐rich and can be reclaimed as fertilizer or used as co‐cultivation of algae. However, limited research has focused on the potential of valuable materials recovery from aquaculture wastewater. This review paper discusses the estimation of wastewater generation from aquaculture industries and the characteristics of the effluent. It discusses the potential for valuable material recovery from wastewater, including aquaculture industries wastewater. This paper summarizes several valuable materials that can be recovered from wastewater to achieve cleaner production in industrial processes and discusses the challenges and prospects in recovering valuable materials from aquaculture effluent for future applications. This review could provide insights to increase the economic value of wastewater, especially aquaculture wastewater, and to enrich knowledge related to the resource reclamation from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrobrachium rosenbergii (M. rosenbergii) is an important freshwater cultured prawn with sexual dimorphism. The mechanism of sexual characteristic formation and sex regulation has been poorly understood. One of the greatest challenges is how to verify the physiological function of sex determination and differentiation genes by animal experiments. This paper began with detailed description of the development of the primary sexual characteristics (genital pores and male appendages) of M. rosenbergii by morphological observation and sex molecular marker technique. Secondly, the histomorphology and histology of reproductive system of M. rosenbergii were comprehensively analysed and compared. This paper firstly gave a brief overview of the earliest period, about 2.5 cm in body length, for sex identification and animal experiments on sex determination and differentiation in prawn. This study provided a convenient and noninvasive method for sex identification in the early stage of juvenile prawns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the first ever observations of jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris egg buoyancy and hatch rates over a range of salinities and represents important information for the husbandry of this species. Dead or unfertilized jungle perch eggs tend to sink in static seawater (>34,000 mg/L), whereas fertilized eggs tend to float. However, at salinities below 32,000 mg/L most fertilized eggs also sink, making it difficult to separate them from unfertilized eggs. Separating fertilized from unfertilized and dead eggs is important for maintaining water quality in aquaculture hatch tanks. Hatch rates of fertilized jungle perch eggs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) at salinities at or above 32,000 mg/L than at lower salinities. The highest mean buoyancy and hatch rates were recorded at 36,000 mg/L. This suggests that jungle perch are fully marine, rather than estuarine spawners. It is recommended that fertilized jungle perch eggs be held at salinities of 32,000 mg/L or higher to maximize hatch rates and to facilitate removal of dead egg material from hatch tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aquaculture, accurate and automatic quantification of fish behaviour can provide useful data input for production management and decision‐making. In recent years, with the focus on fish welfare, it has become urgent to study and use nondestructive quantitative methods of fish behaviour in aquaculture. In this paper, based on the literature of the past 30 years, nonintrusive and automatic quantitative methods for fish behaviour are analysed. Firstly, several important fish behaviours in aquaculture are listed, and the quantification of fish behaviour is summarized in four stages: detection, tracking, feature extraction and behaviour recognition. Then, nonintrusive methods of fish behaviour quantification, through machine vision, acoustics and sensors, and their advantages and disadvantages are also compared and discussed in detail. It is concluded that the combination of multiple methods and deep learning is a key technology for fish behaviour quantification, which has gradually become a popular focus of research and application in recent years. This review can be used as a reference to improve fish behaviour quantification in future, so as to create a more effective and economic technical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being primitive organisms, crustaceans such as shrimp and crab rely on innate immunity to defend pathogens. White spot syndrome virus is a deadly pathogen that causes total mortality in farmed shrimp. Although shrimps do not possess an adaptive immune system and immune memory, there are efforts to prevent mass mortality due to WSSV through the administration of antigenic proteins derived from the virus. In this paper, we describe the effectiveness of the two major WSSV antigenic proteins, VP24 and VP28, in eliciting an immune response in shrimp. Recombinant proteins rVP28 and rVP24 were mass‐produced in E. coli and orally administered to Penaeus monodon juveniles. During the administration of recombinant antigens, differential expression analysis of shrimp biodefense genes was carried out. Among the genes analyzed, transcripts of TLR, Syntenin, PmRACK, Rab7, SOD and C‐type Lectin exhibited upregulation during the administration of both rVP28 and rVP24 at least at a one‐time point. Independently, rVP28 administration upregulated Lectin, PmRACK, Rab7, SOD, STAT, TLR and Syntenin genes at least at one‐time point. Penaeidin and Crustin are either downregulated or similar to that of control. The rVP24 administration upregulated Crustin, Lectin, Penaeidin, PmRACK, Rab7, SOD, TLR and Syntenin. The STAT was either downregulated or similar to that of the control at least at one‐time point. The results revealed the extent of the antigenic property and the ability of rVP28 and rVP24 to elicit an immune response after oral administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the impact of acute temperature challenge on juvenile hippocampus's growth, the variations of external behavioural indexes and internal physiological, biochemical and genetic indexes were analysed at the same time under acute temperature change. In this paper, the external indexes we selected were the response parameters of feeding behaviour (including feeding reaction time, feeding rate and food intake, etc.). The internal indicators include biochemical indicators (SOD, CAT, AKP, ACP, Trypsin, LPS and AMS enzyme activity and MDA content) and fold change (differentially expression multiples) of differentially expressed gene (Hsp70, Hsp90, Gst, Pyy, mTOR, Bcl‐2, Casp9, Casp3, Gadd45α, Fadsd6, Cpt1, Fas, Cyp51, Pdha1, Mdh1, Idh3b and G6pd). The results showed that the juvenile's external indexes had changed significantly at 12 h after short‐term temperature challenge exposed. At the same time, the feeding reaction time (s) was extend, and the feeding rate (individuals/min) and food intake (individual) were reduced, suggesting that the growth of juvenile might be suppressed by temperature challenge. At the same time, MDA and AMS showed a significant correlation with the feeding behaviour parameters, and several function genes Gadd45α, Casp3, Idh3b and G6pd also showed a correlation with the behavioural parameters. Our study provide a valuable information for understanding the mechanism of internal and external reaction in juvenile seahorse, which exposed to short‐term temperature challenge. It is useful to explore the mechanism of how temperature affects fish growth. And the external behavioural indexes can correctly reflect the excessive fluctuation of environmental temperature that is harmful to the juvenile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the currently available knowledge in the literature regarding the use of sodium chloride (NaCl) in freshwater fish aquaculture and aquaria as related to toxicity, growth performance, transportation, physiology, immunity, histomorphology and antiparasitic treatment. This review assessed and discussed all of these factors, as well as the potential strategies available to be used in fish farming. Acute toxicity to NaCl varies widely among fish species (3.5–150.0 g L−1) depending on some environment factors, and many fish species are sensitive to concentrations near those required for their development, growth or for controlling and treating parasites. Acute exposure to NaCl may lead to mortality in different fish species, cause changes in feeding and swimming behaviour, as well as in growth performance and histomorphology of gills, while sublethal concentrations are less harmful. To reduce stress during transport of freshwater fish, concentrations of 1.0–10.0 g L−1 of NaCl in water have been tested for some fish species. Data have shown that survival, body growth of fish, food intake and stimulation of food conversion are affected by the NaCl concentration. Moreover, the effects of NaCl on the immune system, physiology and behaviour must also be considered. Sodium chloride may be a chemotherapeutic for controlling and treating ectoparasite diseases in farmed freshwater fish because of its effectiveness and low cost, but this compound may not be used in high or extreme toxic concentrations, since the maximum tolerance may be near the therapeutic doses. Therefore, this chemical product should be used with parsimony in fish farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: French Polynesia is renowned for the production of Tahitian black pearl. These gems are obtained by grafting a nucleus into the gonad of a receiving oyster together with a graft, i.e. a small section of mantle tissue of a donor oyster. This procedure initiates the formation of a pearl sack around the nucleus, and subsequently, the deposition of concentric layers of nacre. The nucleus plays a key‐role in pearl formation and its characteristics influence markedly the quality of the final product. As it is manufactured from mollusc shells, it contains a small percentage of organics. In the present paper, we used a set of biochemical techniques to characterize and compare the organic matrices from two types of nuclei that are currently used in French Polynesia: that from the freshwater mussel Amblema sp., and that from the pearl oyster Pinctada sp. To this end, we extracted the matrices from nuclei and performed FT‐IR, monodimensional electrophoresis, and enzyme‐linked immuno‐sorbent assay (ELISA). Our data show that the matrix associated with Amblema nuclei has a very different biochemical signature from that of Pinctada nuclei, a fact that may explain the improved tolerance of grafted oysters to nuclei of Pinctada origin. In the absence of complex physical methods of investigation, simple immunological techniques and FT‐IR performed on the extracted organic matrix are extremely reliable and effective for discriminating nuclei from these two sources. We assert that such techniques can be used as a diagnostic test to track unambiguously the biological origin of nuclei to avoid fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for more effective methods and drugs to control parasites in fish farming is constant. Several studies have evaluated the effects of formalin in freshwater and marine fish and their parasites. Thus, this paper focuses on the major toxicological aspects of this chemotherapeutic including growth performance, histopathological damages, haematological and biochemical alterations, and antiparasitic efficacy. Acute toxicity (LC50—96 h) to formalin sulphate vary widely among fish species (0.1–640.0 mg/L) depending on various factors, as many fish species are sensitive to concentrations near those required for controlling and treating parasites. The toxicity of formalin on some metabolic processes leads to disturbances and imbalances to various physiological functions, particularly respiration and haematological and biochemical processes, due to histopathological damages in gills and haematopoietic organs. Formalin often affects the gills, liver, kidney and spleen, and in the gills provokes an increase in mucus and chloride cells, hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy of lamellae and epithelial lifting. Formalin used in therapeutic baths is extremely effective against various protozoan and monogenean species, which are parasites that infect gills, skin and/or fins of farmed freshwater and marine fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isostichopus sp. is a variety of Isostichopus badionotus, proposed as a new species, which has been intensely fished in the Colombian Caribbean, arousing interest for its aquaculture. This study evaluated the effect of two culture densities (1–3 larvae ml−1), two temperatures (23°C and 26°C) and two microalgae diets (Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Nannochloropsis oculata 1:1:1 and I. galbana, C. calcitrans 1:1) on the survival, development and growth of its larvae. Larval culture lasted 22 days until metamorphosis to doliolaria larvae, and 7 days later, the first juveniles were observed with a size of 621.8 ± 12.7 µm (±SE). The highest growth rates, survival and percentage of doliolaria larvae were obtained with 1 larva ml−1 (29.2 µm/day and 31.5% doliolaria larvae) and 26°C (28.4 µm/day and 10% doliolaria larvae). However, in the two diets examined, the larvae showed low growth rates (between 1.3 and 8.5 µm/day), stagnation in development and high mortality. Our results indicate that it is feasible to culture larvae from Isostichopus sp. to juveniles, recommending the use of 1 larva ml−1 and 26°C. However, to meet the nutritional needs of the larvae the inclusion of microalgae Pavlova sp. and Tetraselmis chuii in the diet is recommended. This paper reports for the first time the successful production of sea cucumber juveniles of this species in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, suboptimal environmental conditions have been frequently reported to negatively impact on aquaculture organisms. Salinity is an important environmental factor, and its fluctuation will affect survival, growth and, potentially, the meat quality of the organisms with narrow salt tolerance cultured in coastal and inner bay. The aim of the study was to ascertain and report the influence of sub‐low salinity (28 and 30) on the production traits and nutrient composition of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai (DD), and two of its hybrids (DF and SD). In view of this, 360 abalones were subjected to four salinity levels (28, 30, 32 and 34) for ninety days. The data showed that the weight gain and the specific growth rates in wet weight between the groups followed the trend of DF > SD > DD. DF recorded the highest meat yield, which was significantly higher than SD and DD (p <.05). The sub‐low salinities tested did not influence moisture content, crude protein, total lipid and total carbohydrate (p >.05). Whilst lipid levels were fairly higher in SD and DF than in DD, at sub‐low salinities, the opposite was true for carbohydrate content. Total minerals (ash), however, were influenced by salinity (p <.05). Individuals reared at 28 significantly differed from those of the other three treatments, but there was no significant difference between the groups (p >.05). Further analysis showed sodium and potassium as the predominant minerals—with a higher concentration of sodium at higher salinities, though no significant difference was found between individuals treated at 30, 32 and 34. Zinc was the only mineral not affected by salinity (p >.05), and the accumulation of discrete minerals by the species significantly differed from one mineral to the other and proved to be species‐specific. Notwithstanding, SD demonstrated superior content of most essential minerals over DF and DD. The results in this paper infer that the Pacific abalone and its hybrids could maintain good meat quality and survival under a range of 28–34 of salinity, promoting the growth of cultured abalone under the sub‐low salinity of 28. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a short overview of Brazilian aquaculture production and some of the influences affecting its development. Data on total and species‐specific production are provided along with the locations, numbers of producers, their market contributions and influences. The focus is on some of the key groups, not all, especially tilapia, tambaqui, shrimp, prawn and mollusc farming. The wider influences on production including markets, management practices, technology, resources and research and also consumer and global influences are briefly mentioned to locate the developments in a wider context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing number of Atlantic salmon farming locations in Norway has led to a complex dynamic network of sea lice infestation routes modulated by the local currents. Salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis, Krøyer 1837) egg strings normally hatch from the distal end while still attached to the female louse; however, the female can release their egg strings if stressed during crowding and delousing events. Eggs continue developing normally after being detached. This paper presents empirical measurements of sinking velocities of L. salmonis egg strings of different lengths and maturities. Moreover, we evaluated the potential dispersal distance of detached egg strings from salmon net pens by numerical model simulations for different current flow rates to indicate how far released egg strings could disperse from salmon farms. Theoretical transport distance of egg strings varied between 250 m for the fastest sinking velocity of 11 mm/s and the lowest simulated horizontal current velocity of 0.05 m/s and 6.11 km for the lowest sinking velocity of 9 mm/s and the fastest horizontal velocity of 1 m/s. This study is the first to model egg string transport and to consider its role in larval sea lice dispersal and infestation dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trochophore and veliger are vulnerable pelagic larvae and susceptible to environmental toxicants, which are extremely crucial for the population renewal. Cu, Zn and Cd pollution are common elements in metal pollution in coastal areas. Though Pacific abalone is the main economic mollusc in China, its larval response to metals remains unclear. To understand this, the effect of Cu, Zn and Cd toxicity on malformation classification and respiratory metabolism of trochophore and veliger are analysed and measured in this paper. The 48 hr EC50 for abalone trochophore was (18.9 ± 1.0) μg/L for Cu, (65.1 ± 0.3) μg/L for Zn and (1,377.8 ± 68.9) μg/L for Cd respectively. The LC50 of veliger was (45.8 ± 0.9) μg/L for Cu, (50.0 ± 0.9) μg/L for Zn and (1,049.3 ± 37.6) μg/L for Cd respectively. Trochophore died with no shell at 128 μg/L Cu, yet remained alive with multiple broken‐shell bodies at 128 μg/L Zn and failed to form well‐developed shells at 20,480 μg/L Cd. All veliger died with complete shells at the mentioned concentrations. A self‐made device was used to study the effect on respiratory metabolism. The respiratory metabolism level was significantly fluctuating under Cu and Zn exposure and declined under Cd. The results indicated a decreasing order of the metal toxicity to trochophore and veliger as follows: Cu > Zn ≫ Cd. Cu and Zn were the main causes of shell abnormality, and Cd was less toxic. Moreover, the affected respiratory has a negative impact on further larval development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper deals with the immunological response in marine fish infected by Cryptocaryon irritans and discussed the practical difficulties in the development of potential molecular remedies. Browsing through the literature, it is understood that the development of molecular diagnostic tool to detect the early infection in fish by C. irritans is under progress. Once it is successfully established, the possible application of this technique could be suggested for even the non‐specific treatments such as copper‐based medications and bare‐bottomed quarantine of culture tanks. However, prior protection of healthy fish from C. irritans could be accomplished through proper immunization by infective theronts. In this case, a well‐suited in vitro culture technique is necessary to harvest theronts in large scale. Recent immunological and transcriptome studies predicted that the components related to local immune response are more effective against C. irritans than their systemic counterparts. However, in vivo experiments to prove the effect of these antiparasitic molecular components are meagre. Though molecular vaccines, developed from the well‐characterized 34 kDa immobilization antigen (iAg), responded well, these remedies fail to have a uniform impact against antigenically different strains (serotypes). More research is recommended to identify common protective epitopes from different serotypes. Also, studying the adjuvant effects of various innate responsive components like cytokines is significant. The suggested studies would be immensely helpful to develop effective vaccines against C. irritans infection and thereby optimize the aquaculture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of excess fat in fish might impair the health of fish in aquaculture. This paper introduces an online sequential extreme learning machine (OS‐ELM) into region‐of‐interest (ROI) detection of adipose tissues in fish digitalized by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three typical economic fish species, turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.), large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea R.) and Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus), were selected to compose into digital physiological atlas. We manually labelled with ITK‐SNAP discriminating adipose tissue regions as standard references. Then, single‐hidden‐layer feedforward neural networks (SLFNs) were established to deduce the potential mathematical criterion for fat detection via OS‐ELM for each fish species. We further carried out classical adaptive segmentation to extract details in fat location and distribution of adipose tissues. The quantitative correspondence regarding adipose tissues regions, between 3D voxel representation in MRI and chemical measurement in real fish, have been statistically investigated across each species. The experimental results showed that our online fat detection automatically through MRI is consistent with the standard references, and the recognition rate for three fish species could be up to 89.13% ± 5.32%, 91.43% ± 6.68% and 93.08% ± 6.57% on average, with FAR rate 5.35%, 4.05%, 3.39% and FRRs of 5.52%, 4.52% and 3.53% respectively. Those 3D volumes involved in fat region counting keep pace with the real weights of adipose tissues across species, which implies we might utilize 3D voxel counting to quantify fat accumulation in adipose tissues in a species‐dependent manner. The proposed mechanism brings comparative performances for fat detection and evaluation at a much faster speed, which could help high‐throughput insights into fat metabolism process in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies have verified that moroxydine hydrochloride (Mor) could inhibit replication of grass carp reovirus (GCRV) and suppress apoptosis of Ctenopharyngodon idella kidney cells, but be lack of information whether exists on antiviral activity in vivo. The paper was undertaken to explore the antiviral response of Mor against GCRV in grass carp and investigate the safety of drug for aquatic organisms. The results showed that injection treatment of Mor could more effectively inhibit GCRV replication than immersion administration. All the RNA systheses of vp3 and vp6 on day 7 in head kidney, gill, hepatopancreas and dorsal muscle in the Mor injection group were lesser than 0.07‐fold than that of in control group. And the GCRV‐inducing grass carp mortality was effectively controlled within 7 days post Mor injection therapy. Additionally, the reduction of superoxide dismutase activity, total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity in serum was effectively controlled by Mor. Moreover, drug safety assessment results showed that 500 mg/L of Mor was safe to C. idella, Bacillus subtilis, Chlorella vulgaris and Tetrahymena thermophila, which was far higher than the therapeutic concentration. The present study proved Mor as harmless formulations or products had potential value in the control of GCRV in aquaculture, with the advantage of super in vivo antiviral activity and environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports a study focused on breeding new rapidly growing and heat‐tolerant strains in a commercially important Asian bivalve, Sinonovacula constricta. To breed a new strain of S. constricta with fast growth and high temperature tolerance, complete diallel crosses were carried out using three different geographical culture populations from Zhejiang (Z), Fujian (F) and Guangdong (G) provinces, China. Larval and spat growth and the survival and heat tolerance of spats were compared in detail. The experimental serial growth traits extracted from larval and spat measurements (shell length and shell height) indicated that there was no difference between six hybrid crosses and parental crosses at the larval stage; while at the spat stage, some differences were observed. The hybrid crosses ZF (Z♀ × F♂), ZG (Z♀ × G♂) and FG (F♀ × G♂) outperformed the parental groups in shell length at the end of intermediate culture, with lengths of 21.77 ± 0.28 mm, 21.55 ± 0.29 mm and 21.44 ± 0.20 mm respectively. For spat survival rate, the hybrid cross ZF (Z♀ × F♂) had a significantly larger value (88.89 ± 4.16%) than all the other groups, and the hybrid cross ZG (Z♀ × G♂) had a significantly larger rate than the cross GZ (G♀ × Z♂) and parental crosses ZZ (Z♀ × Z♂) and GG (G♀ × G♂). The hybrid crosses ZF (Z♀ × F♂), ZG (Z♀ × G♂) and FG (F♀ × G♂) exceeded the parental groups in heat tolerance, but there was no significant difference. The growth, survival and heat tolerance results showed that the crosses ZF, ZG and FG in this study were the best hybridization combinations for genetic improvement, which could have significant implications for the development of razor clam aquaculture. This work provides a theoretical basis for breeding new varieties (strains) that grow rapidly and are heat tolerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to colonize the intestinal tract is the main characteristic of probiotic bacteria (Balcázar et al., [1]). Nowadays, few papers have been published about the use of probiotics for clownfish (Wesseling et al., [22]), but there is no reports about the use of autochthonous bacteria as probiotics for I Amphiprion ocellaris i . Nonetheless, some lactic acid bacteria used as probiotics show resistance to different salinity levels (Ricciardi, Parente, & Zotta, [13]; Vieira et al., [20]), for example I L. plantarum i . This is the first report of the autochthonous probiotic for clownfish I Amphiprion ocellaris i recommending I L. plantarum i as a potential probiotic. [Extracted from the article]

Among salmonids, brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis has been gaining popularity in aquaculture. However, major limitations associated with opportunistic diseases that result from unstable egg and fry‐rearing conditions are experienced under intensive rearing conditions. Great losses in brook charr culture result from viral (e.g., infectious pancreatic necrosis, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus), fungal (e.g., saprolegniosis), and bacterial (e.g., furunculosis, cold water disease, columnaris) diseases. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for viral diseases for brook charr, and the chemical disinfectants and antibiotics commonly used against bacterial and fungal infections are reaching their limits (pathogen resistance, microbial community disruption), making alternative and more sustainable rearing approaches essential to bolster aquaculture. In this regard, recent studies show that many microbial species (bacteria, archaea, viruses, eukaryotes‐like protozoa, and unicellular fungi) are essential from the earliest life stages for the proper development and growth of fish. Based on ecological theory and work on marine fish, it has been hypothesized that current aquaculture practices favor r‐strategic, opportunistic microbes that are detrimental to fish health and development. Consequently, to ensure the success and sustainability of brook charr farming, a new aquaculture paradigm involving recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that select a K‐enriched, specialized microbial community as a preventive measure against those microbial diseases is a very promising avenue. In this review, after introducing brook charr biology, the role of microbes in brook charr rearing and the general problems of disease and low fry survival due to an imbalance in the microbial community will be discussed. Various curative and prophylactic treatment methods currently used to control these diseases and their impact on microbial ecology will be covered, and we will conclude with the rationale of microbial ecology management and its effectiveness in promoting fry survival through disease prevention. To our knowledge, this is the first literature review addressing the promises of managing microbial ecology in a sustainable way in the brook char industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationing aquaculture farming feed is challenging for producers due to high feed costs, representing 30%–60% of the total operating costs. Therefore, optimal timing of feeding could lead to improved economic returns from an aquatic system. An optimal dynamic feeding model has been determined considering the von Bertalanffy growth model. A bioeconomic model of tilapia production in Mexico for specific markets was used for numerical illustration. The von Bertalanffy growth model was parameterized with experimental data from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed four ration sizes (50%, 80%, 100%, and satiety), in order to determine different optimal rationing for different fish sizes (200, 300, and 400 g), market prices (Monterrey, Cancún, Mexico City, and On site), and optimal harvesting times (OHT), considering the time value of money. The results of the modeled optimal feeding trajectories show a continuous decrease from stocking to reach a minimum value and then slightly approaching the harvest size. This result contrasts with the recommendations of the feed suppliers and with those found when a potential growth model was used. The results in the case study showed that the Monterrey market presented the highest present value of the benefits in the OHT and the different market sizes. The implications of the Bertalanffy model for optimal rationing trajectories are presented in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted in Kenya as a panacea for climate change impacts on agricultural productivity. Consequently, various climate‐smart aquaculture technologies, innovations, and management practices (CSA‐TIMPs) have been developed, validated, and adopted through the Kenya Climate‐Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP). Nevertheless, there has been no evaluation of the climate‐smartness of the CSA‐TIMPs for priority setting. In this study, we evaluated and ranked the CSA‐TIMPs using a modified Climate‐smart Agriculture Prioritization Framework (CSA‐PF). The prioritization process included multistakeholder validation workshops involving researchers, fisheries officers, farmers, traders, and policy makers. The climate‐smartness scores of the CSA‐TIMPs were given based on the CSA pillars (i.e., adaptation, mitigation, and productivity) under various climate‐smartness indicators, with a score ranging from −10 (for a negative impact) to +10 (for a positive impact). This resulted in the identification and documentation of forty (40) CSA‐TIMPs. Climate‐smartness scores varied from 3.8 to 6.1, with higher values indicating strong synergies between the CSA pillars, with productivity having the highest average score of 6.4. The top 5 list of CSA‐TIMPs with the best synergies among the CSA pillars was then developed for prioritization. Adoption of these CSA‐TIMPs would be instrumental in achieving the CSA triple wins, especially in improving aquaculture productivity. Therefore, sustained efforts in stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and policy support are essential to ensure the successful adoption of CSA‐TIMPs in Kenya. A dynamic approach that includes continuous validation, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, and an enabling environment for adoption will be key to achieving sustainable and scalable impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish feed is critical in aquaculture production, accounting for over 60% of operational costs, with protein being the most expensive component. Traditionally, fish meal (FM) has been the primary protein source. However, due to declining capture fisheries and high demand, FM has become scarce and costly, necessitating the search for alternative, low‐cost, and nutritionally balanced protein sources. A 180‐day feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing FM with a combination of cottonseed and sunflower meal (SFM) in Nile tilapia diets on growth performance, protein digestibility, and economic returns. Freshwater shrimp meal was replaced at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (diets D1, D2, D3, and D4) and compared to the control diet (D0) containing only FM. Monosex Nile tilapia fingerlings (25 ± 0.01 g) were allocated to 15 cages within an 800 m2 earthen pond. Fish on diets D0 and D1 showed superior growth performance metrics, including final mean body weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate (p > 0.05), compared to diets D2, D3, and D4. Growth performance declined significantly with increasing levels of the plant protein mixture (p < 0.05). Diet D0 had the highest apparent protein digestibility, while D4 had the lowest. Cost‐benefit analysis revealed that diet D0 had the highest production cost, followed by diets D1, D2, D3, and D4, with no significant cost difference between D0 and D1 (p > 0.05). Thus, the plant protein mixture can effectively replace FM at a 25% inclusion level in Nile tilapia diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization is a common technique in the breeding of new varieties. In this study, we obtained F1 and F2 hybrids through interspecific hybridization between Siniperca chuatsi and Siniperca scherzeri and backcross offspring by backcrossing between F1 and Siniperca chuatsi. We analyzed the morphological traits and genetic diversity of the parents and their progeny. The results showed that although most morphological traits of the progeny were not significantly different from those of their parents, the F1 hybrids exhibited the most pronounced morphological variations. The F2 and backcross hybrids appeared morphological differentiation within their populations. The CPL/CPW ratio emerged as a reliable marker for identifying hybrids morphologically. The expected heterozygosity for F1 (0.6264), F2 (0.6677), and backcross offspring (0.5260) were intermediate between Siniperca chuatsi (0.7388) and Siniperca scherzeri (0.3910), indicating a relatively high level of genetic diversity in the offspring. Additionally, the private allele frequency of F1 and F2 was higher than backcross offspring. One SSR marker (G5220) was identified as a specific molecular marker to distinguish the hybrid F1 population from the parents, hybrid F2, and backcross F1 populations by analyzing specific alleles. The result of Ne, He, I, and PIC confirmed that F2 maintained the genetic diversity of F1. We speculated that both F1 and F2 have higher breeding potential. This study provides essential baseline data for genetic breeding of mandarin fish that will be instrumental in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of protein and lipid requirements is crucial in prawn species aquaculture. The present study investigated the impact of six diets with different protein and lipid levels (T1, 30/08; T2, 30/12; T3, 35/08; T4, 35/12; T5, 40/08; and T6, 40/12), in triplicate, on the zootechnical performance and body composition of juvenile Macrobrachium macrobrachion over 56 days. These protein and lipid levels were chosen based on the requirements of other freshwater prawn species. The stocking density was one individual per liter. Results show that prawn survival was lower in T6 (with 40% protein and 8% lipid) compared to all others. The treatment T3 (35% protein and 8% lipid) shows higher survival (with 40.0 ± 24.0%) but not significantly different from other diets. The specific growth rate obtained in the present study was not different between diets. Negative values were recorded for treatments T2, T3, and T4 (30%, 35%, and 35% proteins and 12%, 8%, and 12% lipids, respectively) and positive values for treatments T1, T5, and T6 (30%, 40%, and 40% proteins and 8%, 8%, and 12% lipids, respectively). The protein efficiency coefficient (PEC) and the lipid efficiency coefficient (LEC) did not differ between treatments; however, there was a trend for these coefficients to be lower in T4, T5, and T6 (35%, 40%, and 40% proteins and 12%, 8%, and 12% lipids, respectively) compared with the other diets. The highest protein efficiency rates were recorded with the T3 and T4 treatments (35% proteins and 8% and 12% lipids, respectively), while the best lipid level was obtained with T4 (35% proteins and 12% lipids). According to dose–response models, the optimal protein/lipid ratio requirements for M. macrobrachion juveniles can be estimated at 35/8. This study is the first to provide relevant information on the nutritional needs of juveniles of African native freshwater prawn M. Macrobrachion. Further research is needed to optimize nutritional requirements at early stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tilapia and lettuce are the most frequently used combination among aquaponics producers, hobbyists, and educators. Therefore, this literature review aims to aggregate the knowledge on the current status of tilapia/lettuce production and identify research gaps. Among the 40 reviewed publications, 72.5% used Nile tilapia, 17.5% used red, 2.5% used red Mozambique, 5% used rocky mountain strain, and 5% of the articles stated that they used tilapia without reporting the species. Tilapia initial density used ranged from 0.34 to 28.4 kg/m3, which depended on the purpose of the study, experimental size, and design. For the hydroponic unit, 55% of the publications utilized deep water culture (DWC), 35% utilized nutrient film technique (NFT), and 10% utilized media bed (MB). The optimum ratio between fish feeding rate and plant growing area (60 g of feed/day/m2) was originally calculated at the University of Virgin Island and published in 1988 using Bibb lettuce. This recommended ratio has been used by farmers and researchers as a rule of thumb for years. However, this recommended ratio did not take into account other factors such as fish species, protein content of the diet, plant species/variety, plant density, biological filtration, and airflow in the grow bed. Hence, the current review suggests that the fish‐to‐plant ratio, fish density, and flow rate in the aquaponic systems needs to be reevaluated. As there is a thermal preference mismatch between tilapia and lettuce, there is a need to evaluate the optimum temperature for both to obtain the highest growth performance. Nowadays, it is believed that the farmed stocks' genetic quality needs to be regularly enhanced and protected. Consequently, feeding frequency, feeding amount, and stocking densities in aquaponic systems should be continuously reevaluated with the improved strains of tilapia as well as heat‐tolerant varieties of lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper explores the relationships between aquaculture and the environment in Asia, focusing on the demands for environmental goods and services among different sectors, Aquaculture in the region accounts for 88% of global production by weight and 80% by value. Nevertheless, environmental problems are increasingly apparent and the higher the demands for environmental goods and services, the more negative the impacts. Against a background of rapid social, economic and political change, the paper considers how the sustainability of the industry is best assured. An integrated view of resource use, in which aquaculture is but one activity, is necessary for sustainable development. The roles of planning, education, research and environmental management schemes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, aquaculture development has been driven by technical solutions to the culture of high unit value (HUV) species. As rising production has met with falling prices, diversification into other HUV species has occurred and renewed the ‘species-cycle’ process. However, if aquaculture is to make its forecast contribution to offset declining capture supplies, some redirection may be needed to determine the substitute species and the product profile sought by consumers, and hence, the areas for genuine opportunity for growth. To this end, this paper employs Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to analyse consumer acceptance of a cultured product. The MCA identifies patterns of association hidden by conventional techniques and may provide a methodology for identifying more relevant responses by the international aquaculture industry to the needs of the market. To illustrate the potential, the paper presents a case study of African catfish. Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822), using face-to-face consumer surveys incorporating samples of Clarias fillets in household meals. The MCA suggests that the Clarias product has attributes which are not uniquely orientated to any particular niche market, in contrast to most conventional HUV species. This may be advantageous, and for example, suggests that Clarias might be marketed as frozen blocks for further added value products and as a substitute for those demersal species which are less available internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the structure and performance of Chinese integrated pond fish farming systems, based on analysis of survey data for 1013 ponds on 101 farms in eight Chinese provinces. A province-by-province examination of gross and net fish yields supports the traditional Chinese classification of provinces into high, medium and low productivity classes according to fish farm output: average net fish yields for surveyed ponds in each class were 7958.4981 and 3321 kg ha-1 year-1 respectively. The paper includes summaries and analyses of data on fish stocking and harvesting, use of feeds and fertilizers, fish—animal integration, capital inputs, and the overall cost and revenue structure in each productivity class. In addition to variations in aggregate input and output levels, a key difference between productivity classes is seen to lie in the stocking model utilized; filter-feeding fish dominate in poorer areas, while ‘feeding fish’ (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), black carp, Myhpharyngodoti piceus (Richardson), and omnivorous carps) dominate in high-productivity provinces. These results are examined in light of regional differences in culturing tradition, socio-economics, infrastructure, climate and geographical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxytetracycline (OTC), widely used as an antibiotic substance in aquaculture, has an adverse effect on environmental and public health. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate that OTC can be removed by hydrogel films composed of β‐cyclodextrin/carboxymethylcellulose (β‐CD/CMC) with esterification‐crosslink method. Oxytetracycline adsorption experiments were performed with an initial pH of 1–12 and an initial concentration of 10–500 mg/L. The experimental data were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and compared using linear and nonlinear models. The experimental results indicate that OTC's adsorption capacity depends on the active β‐cyclodextrin content. The optimal pH was around 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The octopus paralarvae are visual predators, but the tactile and chemical stimuli do influence the hunt, selection and intake of prey (Villanueva & Norman, [20]). In cephalopod paralarvae culture, this is the first paper to report upon the use of inert diet encapsulated in a natural polymer (chitosan) and labelled with fluorosphere (10 µm) as intake marker of the growth and survival of common octopus paralarvae. The presence of fluorosphere along the digestive tract proved the ingestion and digestion of the chitosan-based encapsulated diet, as well as its applicability for the first time as food intake tracers in cephalopods paralarvae. However, further studies are required to adapt the physical characteristics of the diet encapsulated in chitosan to the paralarvae behaviour as well as to discover the bioavailability of nutrients encapsulated and their digestibility in I O. vulgaris i paralarvae. [Extracted from the article]

Bacillus subtilis E20, an isolate from natto – a Japanese fermented soy product – is used in a wide variety of marine and freshwater aquatic species to enhance growth and immunity. This paper describes the cloning, expression and characterization of xylanase isolated from B. subtilis E20 in B. subtilis RIK1285. The BsXynE20 gene was identified to encode a 213‐amino‐acid protein for a glycoside hydrolase family 11 xylanase containing a 28‐residue signal peptide whose cleavage yields a 185‐residue mature protein with a predicted molecular weight of 20.25 kDa. The full length of the BsXynE20 gene was subcloned into the pBE‐S expression vector for secretory production of recombinant BsXynE20 in B. subtilis RIK1285. Western blot and zymogram analysis, respectively, revealed that recombinant BsXynE20 can be secreted into culture medium and is a functional xylanase. The xylanase exhibited optimal activity at pH 5.0–6.0 and 60°C. Using recombinant BsXynE20‐pretreated duckweed meal for feed preparation improved the growth performance of tilapia. Finally, we achieved secretive expression of functional BsXynE20, which can improve the nutrient utilization of a plant‐derived diet. Thus, the use of BsXynE20 may be beneficial for tilapia aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the glucose tolerance tests (GTT) were performed to evaluate the effects of three dietary carbohydrate levels on growth, plasma glucose, hormones (insulin and IGF‐I), glucose homeostasis and GLUT4 gene expression of Tilapia nilotica. Juvenile tilapia (av. wt.10 g) were randomly distributed into three groups with three replicates and fed for 8 weeks with three dietary carbohydrate levels: 40% (CH), 30% (CM) and 20% (CL). After 8 weeks of feeding trial, fish were injected with glucose (30 mg/100 g body weight) for GTT. The growth performance results showed the survival rate in the CH group was significantly lower than the other two groups (p < 0.05). The GTT results showed that the plasma glucose level positively correlates with the diets' carbohydrate level initially, peaked at 1 hr and declined thereafter. The plasma IGF‐1 levels were positively correlated with diets' carbohydrate levels; first the levels increase and then decrease after injection in all the three groups. There was a direct relationship between the carbohydrate levels and the activities of liver pyruvate kinase (PK) and glucokinase (GK) enzymes. Muscle GLUT4 expression in groups changed slightly in 0–3 hr and then increased sharply during 6–12 hr. Results of this study indicated that the moderate dietary carbohydrate level may improve the glucose tolerance of T. nilotica. The carbohydrate levels can affect plasma glucose, IGF‐1 and GLUT4 expression in T. nilotica. In addition, the IGF‐1 may play a more important role on the glucose metabolism than insulin. The delayed gene transcription of GLUT4 may be one of the reasons for glucose intolerance in T. nilotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the mortality rate, histopathology and haematological parameters of Arapaima gigas against Aeromonas hydrophila after 68 days of dietary probiotic supplementation with autochthonous bacterium Enterococcus faecium. Three experiments were carried out: the first assay evaluated the lethality of A. hydrophila, the second and the third assay evaluated the fish supplemented subjected to A. hydrophila lethal dose 30% (106 CFU ml-1) and lethal dose 100% (108CFU ml-1) respectively. The clinical signs, blood changes, histopathological alterations and mortalities were evaluated. At the first experiment, the concentrations of 106 and 108CFU.mL-1 with A. hydrophila caused 33% and 100% of mortality. The A. hydrophila infection provoked clinical signs such as dark skin, ulceration, haemorrhage, pale gills and liver, hepatic alterations, hyperaemia, hepatic cord breakdown, cellular deforming, lipid degeneration and necrosis. In the second experiment, no mortality occurred onto fish fed with probiotic. Furthermore, in the third experiment, fish submitted to probiotic supplementation showed reduction in mortality of 75% compared with the control and fish fed with probiotic diets at 108CFU g-1 not presented any clinical signs. For these reasons, Arapaima gigas juveniles previously submitted to probiotic supplementation with E. faecium (108CFU g-1) shows better physiological and immunological response, improving resistance against A. hydrophila infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The below articles, published online on Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com) have been retracted by agreement between the submitting author, Mohammad Sadegh Aramli, the Editors, Ronald Hardy, Lindsay Ross, Shi‐Yen Shiau, Marc Verdegem, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. After a thorough investigation, there is strong evidence to indicate that the peer review of these papers was compromised. The identities of the reviewers were unable to be verified and it is believed that the papers were accepted based on recommendations from reviewers not suitably qualified. REFERENCES Aramli, M. S., Azarin, H., & Farsi, P. (2017). Motility parameters, adenosine triphosphate content and oxidative stress indices of sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus sperm after 6 days of storage. Aquaculture Research, 48, 719–724. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.12855 Aramli, M. S., Nazari, R. M., Farsi, P., Mehdinejad, N., Aramli, S., & Sotoudeh, E. (2017). Effectiveness of carp pituitary extract and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue administration (by either injection or cholesterol pellet implantation) on spawning performance in female sturgeon, Huso huso. Aquaculture Research, 48, 1915–1922. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13029 Gharibi, M. R., Atashbar, B., Agh, N., Nematollahi, M., Aramli, M. S., & Noori, A. (2016). Effect of concentration of the microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta on survival and growth of fairy shrimp, Phallocryptus spinosa Milne Edwards, 1840 (Crustacea: Anostraca). Aquaculture Research, 47, 2976–2982. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.12749 Kalbassi, M. R., Lorestani, R., & Aramli, M. S. (2017). Study of testis histology and sperm morphology in the Bunnei, Barbus sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874) induced by luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue and carp pituitary extract. Aquaculture Research, 48, 473–480. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.12895 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces papers from the conference, Sea Lice 2003 - Proceedings of the sixth international conference on sea lice biology and control, published in the July 2004 issue of "Aquaculture Research."