Scientists compared wild Arctic char with those raised in aquaculture and found that the latter is no less nutritional. This means that char can be grown in aquaculture without losing its quality and it also can be used as an important source of PUFAs for humans. The results of the study were published in the journal Reports of Biochemistry and Biophysics (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1607672923700680).

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for human health. They play an important role in various body functions, including supporting the health of the heart, blood vessels, brain and nervous system. But they can be produced in the human body in small quantities. Fish is considered one of the main sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for humans. Previously, Krasnoyarsk scientists discovered that the largest amount of omega-3, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are contained in the Arctic char Salvelinus alpines. Scientists have suggested that its cultivation in aquaculture will help provide people with quality products.

Researchers from the Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS" and Siberian Federal University, as part of a project on growing northern char, compared the fatty acid composition in the juvenile wild Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus and those grown in experimental aquaculture. The analysis showed that aquaculture farming does not reduce the nutritional value of the char.

For analysis, scientists took muscle tissue from juvenile char. The fish were selected from two aquaculture farms located in the Krasnoyarsk Region and in the Leningrad Region, conducting experimental farming of char; wild specimens were collected from Lake Sobachye in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Region.

The fatty acid composition of juvenile char from aquaculture was characterized by a higher content of linoleic acid and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids as compared to juvenile lake char. The specialists suggested that the fish should receive these fatty acids through food with special additives. At the same time, the content of valuable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, in fish was similar. Thus, aquaculture farming of juvenile char did not reduce the value of the fish as a source of EPA and DHA as compared to wild char.

“One of the important issues of introducing a species into aquaculture is not only the production of highly productive breeds, but also the preservation of the biochemical qualities of fish products. Char is considered one of the most valuable species for its content of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs. When chars are grown in aquaculture, the fatty acid composition and content is likely to depend on the composition and quality of the feed used, and the nutritional value of char as a source of EPA and DHA may be even higher than that of wild fish. However, it is worth waiting for the char in aquaculture to reach sexual maturity and commercial size so that final conclusions can be drawn,” said Anastasia Rudchenko, Candidate of Biological Sciences, researcher at the Institute of Biophysics SB RAS.

The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the Krasnoyarsk Regional Science Foundation (project No. 22-24-20023), Project Office for the Development of the Arctic (PORA).