Improving the growth rate and flesh quality of cultured barramundi: Investigating the effects of temperature, diet and population.
Researcher: Geoff Carey

In conjunction with industry partners Ridleys Aquafeeds and Good Fortune Bay, this University of Queensland study is investigating the effects of embryonic temperature change in barramundi on a range of post-hatch parameters including muscle cellularity, growth rate and flesh quality. Initially, fertilised eggs are incubated at a range of temperatures and allowed to hatch, upon which larvae are sampled and analysed histologically to determine any changes to muscle cellularity. Treated and control fish are then grown out and sampled at pre-determined developmental points to ascertain growth rate, histological, and molecular parameters. Fish will be grown to commercial size, where fillet quality will be analysed. This project aims to develop technologies to improve the growth rate and flesh quality of barramundi which can be easily incorporated into existing fish farm frameworks.