Lack of negative effects of fasting of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) breeders during the spawning period on maternal and egg nutrient composition, fertilization success, and early embryo/larval development

The effect of fasting on spawning performance, maternal, and egg nutrient composition, embryo/larval development was monitored in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Two broodstocks were fasted during two consecutive years, for a period 43 54 days within the season, preliminary (year 1, 5-year-old breeders) main study 2, 6-year-old breeders), respectively. Mean daily fecundity showed declining trend only, while fertilization success high both years it not affected by fasting, as hatching 5-day larval survival. There loss 23.5% maternal body mass due to reduction gonadosomatic hepatosomatic indexes, well crude protein muscle gonads, but liver. After Σω-6 PUFA C18:3ω-3 reduced C20:4ω-6, 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6, C22:6ω-3/20:4ω-6 increased; liver, significant reductions observed C16:0, C18:3 ω-3, 20:5ω-3/C22:6ω-3 increases C18:0, C20:5ω-3, PUFA, 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6; C15:0, ΣMUFA, 20:5ω-3/C22:6ω-3, 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6 increased, C18:1ω-9 C20:5ω-3 decreased. Contrary tissues, energy density proximate composition eggs did change fasting. suggests that breeders 6–8 weeks does affect or embryo early since reserves are mobilized maintain optimal composition.