Effect of the seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera and a formulated diet on growth and fatty acid composition in the green abalone, Haliotis fulgens, under commercial culture conditions

The effect of a formulated diet (FD), a seaweed diet (SW), and a mixture of both (FD + SW) on growth, Survival rate, and fatty acid content in the tissue of juvenile Haliotis fulgens abalone grown under commercial culture conditions, was analyzed over a 329-day period. Survival and growth rate in terms of length and weight were different with each of the diets evaluated, being significantly higher (P < 0.05) with the mixed diet (ED + SW), followed by SW and FD. Since feed intake was not evaluated in this preliminary study, differences in growth cannot be attributed to the dietary treatment