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Using fatty acid markers to distinguish between effects of salmon ( Salmo salar ) and halibut ( Hippoglossus hippoglossus ) farming on mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ) and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus )
Author(s) -
Ghanawi Joly,
McAdam Bruce J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.14568
Subject(s) - halibut , hippoglossus hippoglossus , whiting , fishery , salmo , biology , mackerel , scomber , aquaculture , fish farming , fish <actinopterygii>
Presence of coastal aquaculture activities in marine landscapes is growing with impacts on the wild fish that share these habitats. However, it is difficult to disentangle subsequent ecological interactions between these activities and marine fish communities. We evaluated the impact of both salmon and halibut farms on mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ) and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ) sampled near sea cages using condition indices and fatty acid (FA) biomarkers. Results of the stomach content analysis indicated that mackerel and whiting consumed waste feed which was also reflected in their modified FA profiles. Both mackerel and whiting had elevated levels of FAs that are of vegetable oils origin. The use of vegetable oils as replacement for marine oils is a lot more common in salmon farming than halibut farming. Additionally, the overall effects of the two fish farms were more pronounced in whiting than in mackerel sampled near the sea cages. By allowing discrimination between sources of trophic interactions, this method could lead to more informed decisions in managing different farming activities.