Aquafeed imprint on bogue (Boops boops) populations and the value of fatty acids as indicators of aquaculture-ecosystem interaction: are we using them properly?

Abstract

Escapes of farmed fish into the ecosystem have recently received a marked interest from scientists for their competition with wild populations or the risk of genetic contamination. Fatty acid profiles have been proposed as bio-indicators due to the inclusion of terrestrial oils in aquafeed ingredients. This study evaluated 1) the effect of wasted food on the fatty acid content of a farm-associated fish and 2) the suitability of fatty acid profiles as a bioindicator of aquaculture-ecosystem interactions, using the bogue (Boops boops) as a model. This species is an opportunistic fish usually associated with–or even found in–sea farms, and with a high natural occurrence along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. The results showed that fish farms had a direct effect on the condition index, muscle and whole lipid content of bogue inside or around the sea cage, and this effect disappeared completely at 3 km from the cages. Despite the fact that aquafeeds also affected the bogue fatty acid profiles by increasing linoleic and oleic acids and reducing DHA, these profiles were very similar to those of bogue sampled close to a sewage outfall, denoting that these fatty acids are not exclusively influenced by aquaculture and therefore should not be considered as good biomarkers for escapees. However, bogues influenced by aquaculture were higher in linolenic acid than those found further than 3 km from the farm or close to the sewage, suggesting this fatty acid as a better indicator of aquaculture influence.