B18_Cod egg fatty acids project - Final report

Summary

Production of good quality juveniles from cod hatcheries relies heavily on the quality of eggs produced. However, egg quality can be highly variable and identifying, at an early stage, which eggs are likely to generate good hatch rates and larval survival can save time and money that could be wasted incubating poor quality eggs. Evidence suggests that the egg fatty acid composition, especially arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations, as well as the ARA/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio are vital for good egg quality. Similarly the egg carotenoid, principally astaxanthin, (Ax) content is also correlated with improved egg and larval quality in other fish species.

Publication Reference No.

B18

Publication date

01 August 2008