Assessing the nutritional value of farmed and wild gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata): Implications for local aquaculture in the central Algerian coast

Aquaculture is a sustainable alternative to traditional fishing, especially in the Mediterranean, where wild fish populations are declining. Consumer concerns about the nutritional value of farmed fish versus wild fish impede aquaculture development in Algeria. This study compares the nutritional value of farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) in Algeria to wild fish. Samples were taken from four natural fishing areas and two fish farms. Biometric analysis revealed that farmed fish had positive allometric growth while wild fish had isometric growth. According to proximate composition analysis, wild fish contained more water (75.64 % vs. 70,6 %) and less organic matter (23.5 % vs. 26.2 %) than farmed fish. Fatty acid profiles analyzed with GC-MS in SIM mode revealed that farmed fish contained more omega-6 fatty acids (mean: 22.89 mg/100 mg), whereas wild fish had higher omega-3 levels (mean: 8.78 mg/100 mg). Despite these differences, both farmed and wild gilthead sea bream had high nutritional quality, particularly in omega-3 fatty acids. These findings indicate that farmed fish can be a high-quality alternative to wild fish in the Mediterranean region as long as feed formulations are optimized to better mimic wild fish lipid profiles. This study addresses consumer concerns and promotes sustainable aquaculture in Algeria.