Lipid digestion capacity in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) from first feeding to commercial size.

To characterise the progression of lipid digestion capacity in gilthead seabream across life cycle, the activities of bile salt-activated lipase (BAL) and phospholipase A (PLA) were determined in the digestive tracts of cultured gilthead seabream from first feeding to marketable size (49 μg to 300 g). Four trials were undertaken with gilthead seabream of different ages, fed on diets with fishmeal and fish oil as the main dietary protein and lipid sources and 21-25% lipid contents. Larvae of 4 days after hatching (dah) to 9 dah were fed rotifers with different fatty acid profiles: control (2.