A novel enrichment method enhancing free amino acid and phosphoslipid content in live food for halibut and cod larvae

Natural zooplankton, the natural diet of marine fish larvae, has showed to be superior to enriched Artemia nauplii in supporting survival growth and normal development of pigmentation and eye migration in halibut. The nutritional quality of the live food used in intensive marine culture differs from that of the zooplankton in essential fatty acid content, lipid classes composition, amino acid composition and level of free amino acids (FAA) and vitamin A derivatives. By the use of new enrichment methods we want to increase the level of phospholids and free amino acids in the live feed, thereby to make a live food that gives enhanced marine fish larvae quality. The effect on marine fish larvae of enhanced levels of FAA and phospholipid in the live feed are to be tested both separatedly and together. Further, the method and the knowledge that will be developed through this study intend to increase the similiarity between the enrichment diet and the enriched live food. T his will be a ve rsatile tool that can be applied to all fish larvae and other economically important aquatic animals.