Composition for feeding prey organisms in aquaculture

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The composition according to the invention, for feeding prey organisms comprises as its main component a phospholipid-rich component.
In the present context, the expression `prey organisms` refers to any marine organism that can be used as live feed for larvae of marine species that are produced in aquacultural facilities.
A general review of such prey organisms can be found in Lavens & Sorgeloos (eds.
) "Manual on the production and use of live food for aquaculture" published by FAO (1995) which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Accordingly, the most commonly used prey organisms include several classes and genera of microalgae, rotifers, Artemia, zooplankton including copepods, cladocerans, nematodes, and trochophora larvae.
As used herein, the term `aquaculture` is to be understood in its broadest sense and it includes any production of any aquatic species produced under aquacultural conditions, such as fish species, including as examples salmon, trout, carp, bass, bream, turbot, sole, milkfish, grey mullet, grouper, bream, halibut; crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, crayfish and crabs; molluscs such as bivalves.
A common feature of these aquatic species is that the life cycle includes one or more larval stages which may have very specific nutritional requirements and accordingly the provision of live prey organisms meeting this requirement is an essential factor for successful aquacultural production.
As mentioned above, one such specific requirement is a high content of the essential fatty acid DHA, the term `essential` implying that the prey organisms are not capable of de novo synthesis of such compounds.
The composition of the present invention has a DHA content of at least 30 wt %, such as in the range if about 30 to 35 wt %, or the range of about 35 40 wt % preferably at least 40 wt %, such as at least 50 wt % including at least 60 wt %.
In order to provide a composition having this high content of DHA, the lipid components of the composition must be selected so as to provide the desired amount of DHA