Effects of raw and hydrolysed Nannochloropsis gaditana biomass included at low level in finishing diets for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) on fillet quality and shelf life

Abstract Numerous studies evaluating the effects of incorporation microalgae in feeds have reported favourable impacts on different physiological aspects aquacultured fish. Although productivity is major goal terms profitability fish farming, qualitative are gaining attention producers, given relevance quality attributes related to organoleptic parameters, proximal composition, and shelf life commercial value Indeed, acknowledged for their richness substances with potential positive all those attributes. In this context, study assesses finishing diets enriched microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana , either crude or enzymatically hydrolysed, several parameters gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) fillets. Two inclusion levels (2.5 5%) raw hydrolysed microalgal biomass were incorporated into diets, plus a microalgae-free control diet, 42-day feeding trial was carried out size (approx. 500 g body weight). The influence experimental biometry, fillet evaluated. results indicate, overall, that microalgae-enriched yielded favourable, dose-dependent objective fillets, namely, improved fatty acid profile, reduced microbial counts, enhanced lipid oxidative status, textural skin colour enzymatic pre-treatment expected impact positively its functional however, no general trend observed.