Effect of the fatty acid EPA and DHA in the conditioning of the scallop Nodipecten nodosus (Linné, 1758)

This study tested the diet enrichment with fatty acid EPA and DHA during the broodstock conditioning of scallops Nodipecten nodosus in hatchery. For this, before the conditioning the animals were induced to spawning and then were placed in tanks for maturation of 30 days, and subjected to five treatments: (1) Cm100%, (2) Cm + DHA, (3) T-Iso100%, (4) T-Iso + EPA e (5) Mix (mix of the microalgae Isochrysis sp., Chaetoceros muelleri and Skeletonema sp., in the rate 50:25:25, respectively). After the conditioning, the animals were induced to spawning. The sexual stage by histology, spawning, larviculture and settlement was evaluated. The treatment T-Iso + EPA in broodstock showed 100% of the animals mature, stage 2B (advanced pre-spawning), higher yield in larvae D, pediveliger and spat. These results indicate that broodstock feeding with T-Iso + EPA provides a positive effect on the maturation, as well as a higher larvae and spat survival in hatchery.

► Maturation of N. nodosus was obtained with diet Isochrysis sp. enriched with EPA. ► Greater survival of larvae “D” was obtained from scallops fed with T-Iso + EPA. ► Greater survival of pediveliger was obtained from scallops fed with T-Iso + EPA. ► Greater survival of spat was obtained from scallops fed with T-Iso + EPA.