Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
Published on: September 11, 2018
Mobile epibenthic fauna consume organic waste from coastal fin-fish aquaculture
S H Woodcock1, T Strohmeier1, Ø Strand1
1Institute of Marine Research, Postboks 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway.
Abstract:
Organic waste released from fin-fish aquaculture is being dispersed further as industry growth has led to the expansion of open net cages in dynamic coastal locations. Here we investigate the response of three mobile epibenthic invertebrates (brittle stars, urchins and brown crabs), whose natural habitats overlap with large scale coastal salmon farming. Using fatty acids and stable isotopes, we found these organisms displayed decreases in δ13C and δ15N and elevated levels of C18 fatty acids reflective of terrestrial components of fin-fish feeds. Furthermore, we found these three species consume aquaculture organic waste not only directly adjacent to the farm vicinity (0-20 m from cage edge) but up to 1 km away in the case of brittle stars and brown crabs. As aquaculture feeds shift to contain more terrestrial ingredients, the biochemistry of fauna feeding on organic waste is also being shifted, the result of these changes is currently unclear.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Osmoregulation in Fishes
Accessory Organs
Applications of Integration to Find Consumer Surplus
Levels of Organization
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...
Organic Compounds
Transgenic Organisms

