Quality and safety of aquaculture products:

Quality aquaculture products have become a priority for the consumer. The more control exist on the production cycle, the higher the chances to control and directs product’s quality. Culture conditions, such as water recirculation, feed composition and presence of environmental toxins that might be present in bivalves, are some of the parameters with an effect on product quality. It is necessary to study all those factors related with quality, especially those affecting fat deposition, which is one of the most determinant characteristics for fish quality. Current techniques allow finding molecular indicators that define quality characteristics.

Clear examples of this are:

a. Integrated focus study of aquaculture products quality: from consumer preferences until identification of molecular indicators.
b. Fat metabolism, endocrine regulation, effect of different types of feed and identification of molecular indicators that regulate fat accumulation and mobilization.
c. Research in new and better rapid identification methods of alimentary marine toxins.
d. Development of specific rapid diagnostic tools with special attention on rapid detection of Perkinsus in bivalves. XRAq’s work on Perkinsus detection will produce new tools with faster detection times (from several hours to few minutes).