E!7995 BioBullets for Enhanced Sustainable Shellfish Yield

Global aquaculture of shellfish has seen annual increases of 18% since 1990. While there is increasing global demand for farmed bivalve molluscs, there remain a number of bottlenecks and limitations which constrain production potential. Uncertainty of supply p resents major production problems for the industry which may endure a year without the arrival of any spat. In response, wild collection is being rapidly replaced by hatchery-reared spat, providing a more reliable, higher quality product. However, culture d spat production presents challenges of its own: The 'best' diets for spat are the algal species with the richest polyunsaturated fatty acids - PUFAs - requiring large quantities of algae to be cultured, dosed in the optimal proportions and then ingeste d. Algal cultures are prone to contamination and failure, creating mismatches between supply and demand. The most effective enhancement diets contain algae rich in a select range of PUFAs - docosahexaeonic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arach idonic acid (AA). Our objective is to develop and test a cost effective method for delivering enhanced PUFA loadings to hatchery-reared shellfish, thus maximising growth rates, minimising time in hatchery and maximising survivorship through improved body condition. In addition, we propose to use enhanced diet supplements to extend the period during which broodstock can be used for propagation. Our technology lies in the use of a patented, novel and highly effective delivery mechanism. The innovation lies in encapsulating active ingredients (in this case PUFAs) in edible products which the shellfish filter and ingest. By moving diet supplements away from cultured algae, we offer a product with a longer shelf life and which overcomes inconsistencies in supp ly

Our objective is to develop and test a cost effective method for delivering enhanced PUFA loadings to hatchery-reared shellfish, thus maximising growth rates, minimising time in hatchery and maximising survivorship through improved body condition. In addi tion, we propose to use enhanced diet supplements to extend the period during which broodstock can be used for propagation. Our technology lies in the use of a patented, novel and highly effective delivery mechanism: the BioBullet. The innovation lies in encapsulating active ingredients (in this case PUFAs) in edible products which the shellfish filter and ingest. Encapsulation means over 1000 times less product is required than freely dosing the PUFA, with the mussels? filtering activity concentrating th e material from the water. Encapsulation also ensures that optimal formulations can be tailored and delivered to each growth stage and coating materials can be made attractive to maximise uptake. By moving diet supplements away from cultured algae, BioBul lets offer a product with a longer shelf life and which overcomes inconsistencies in supply. This new project presents a range of novel challenges that must be overcome to produce a commercially viable product. Particles must be produced much smaller than previously developed. This requires development of new encapsulation methods. With a smaller size comes the challenge of achieving a high loading of active ingredient. We aim to produce spherical particles (the shape preferred by bivalves) with high PUFA content, a slight negative buoyancy, long breakdown time so the bullets do not simply pass through the gut), and that is attractive to and filtered by king scallops (Pecten maximus), our test organism. Manufacture will be conducted by Micropore Technolog ies (UK), project Management and iterative R&D will be undertaken by BioBullets (UK), scaled-up trials will be conducted at commercial hatcheries and nurseries by Scalpro (Norway).