Feeding interruption and quality of cultured gilthead sea bream

Proximate composition, fatty acid and amino acid profiles and sensory attributes of semi-intensive cultured gilthead sea bream were determined without feeding interruption and with feeding interruption from 1 to 13 days. Average proximate composition was protein: 19.4–19.9%, fat 14.1–15.4%, moisture: 64.1–65.3%, and ash: 1.3%. The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were dominant: 43%, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): 32% and saturated fatty acids (SFA) 25%. For each fatty acid class the major compounds were palmitic acid (SFA), vaccenic and oleic acid (MUFA) and docosahexaenoic acid (PUFA). Regarding the feeding interruption, it appears that the perivisceral fat can supply the required energy for up to 13 days of starvation.