Seaweed enrichment of feed supplied to farm-raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is associated with higher total fatty acid and LC n-3 PUFA concentrations in fish flesh

Seaweeds have great potential as feed ingredients for fish farming, though their effects on the fatty acid content and profile of fish flesh are not well established. Recent studies suggest that seaweed supplementation can increase the concentration of long chain omega-3 PUFA (LC n-3 PUFAs) in various animal species, though this effect has never been assessed in salmon. Primarily, this study compared the fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that were fed a high quality diet containing seaweed (Diet A), with those on a high quality control diet without seaweed (Diet B). In addition, fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon that were fed a standard industrial quality diet containing seaweed (Diet C), were compared to those on a similar diet without seaweed (Diet D). Total fatty acid concentrations were significantly higher (+30%, p