Effects of Algae and Shell Pigment Extract‐supplemented Diets on Shell Pigmentation and Growth Performance of Pacific Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai

To improve shell pigmentation and growth performance of Pacific abalone, five extruded diets were prepared by supplementing a formulated control diet with 3% each of three species of algae (Pacific dulse, Porphyra yezoensis, Spirulina) and a pigment extract from the abalone shells (0.02%). Each of the five diets and a commercial feed were randomly assigned to three containers each stocked with 1000 juvenile Pacific abalone (2 g per individual) in a flow-through seawater system for a 5-mo feeding trial. Test results showed: (1) all the supplements significantly (P < 0.05) increased percentages of dark-brown shelled abalone in the test treatments, relative to the control treatment; (2) the abalone fed the experimental diets achieved significantly (P < 0.05) greater final weight, shell-length growth rates, and higher meat protein contents than those fed the commercial feed (P < 0.05); and (3) the abalone fed the Spirulina-supplemented diet achieved the best overall growth, pigmentation performances, and feed conversion ratio; and the Pacific dulse supplement generated the highest protein content in abalone meat product (P < 0.05) among the tested diets. These results demonstrate the potential of locally made feed, which can generate desirable characteristics in abalone under aquaculture conditions.