Growth is one of the most appreciated economic traits in aquaculture, but it is also a complex process that is factor dependent. One of the principal constraints in aquaculture is the great size dispersion on the same batch, which compromises the business rentability and creates natural competition that intensifies fish aggressiveness and stress on the production tanks. To decrease this situation, regular calibration procedures are necessary, but in semi-intensive or offshore aquacultures it is almost impossible or too hard to perform and is also another stressor factor. Nowadays it is very difficult to evaluate the percentage of slow-growth fish, when a batch arrives at the hatchery, and on the first calibration, this fish has, on average, a size (by weight) 4 to 5 times lower than the average of the batch. This late assessment entails costs for the company since the cost of production of these fish does not provide a financial return. The NanoPeixe project arises to identify biomarkers that allow the development of a selection tool to distinguish seabream (Sparus aurata) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with different growth profiles in aquaculture production.
During the 18 months, the project will characterize the physicochemical and molecular parameters, on the different farmed batches, identify a group of biomarkers between groups with different growth profiles, identify morphological characteristics, phenotypical and/or biochemical relevant and differentiators of the groups with different growth profiles, correlate the biomarkers in order to build and validate, on a full scale, a tool that predicts the growth potential of seabream from different batches/hatcheries.
This toll aims to predict, at an initial development phase, the growth potential of seabream coming from different batches, reducing the economic impact of size dispersion of the farmed fish. This tool should be applied at an industrial scale and has a global commercialization target, namely seabream and seabass producers, that will increase their competitivity in the sector, which will reflect in an increase of value and performance of the aquaculture industry.
Acknowledgments: This study was funded by NanoPEIXE project – Identificação de biomarcadores para a criação de uma ferramenta de seleção para douradas com diferentes perfis de crescimento em produções em aquacultura (ALG-01-0247-FEDER-070032).