Tuna nutrition and feeds: current status and future perspectives

Abstract

Aquaculture is providing an ever-increasing proportion of fish in the human food basket prompting a search for new species to expand the range available to consumers. Large tunids/scombrids have long-since been a very valuable resource providing not only high quality protein, but also a rich source of the highly beneficial omega-3 (or n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic and, especially docosahexaenoic acids in the human diet. Consequently, there is considerable interest worldwide in developing the culture of large tunids, including Atlantic northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Nutrition is vital to this development, playing key roles in reproductive success, including the establishment of successful broodstock producing high quality eggs and larvae, and ultimately the cost-effective production of nutritious seafood. This review summarises the rather fragmentary data that compromise the current state-of-the-art in relation to tuna nutrition and the development of artificial, formulated feeds for these species. In highlighting the various considerable challenges that feed development will pose, we discuss the future perspectives for tuna culture in terms of both fish and human nutrition and welfare, against the background of diminishing global marine resources.