EFFECTS OF SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON FISH WITH PARTICULAR RESPECT TO THE CULTURE OF TURBOT AND GILTHEAD BREAM (SCOPHTHALMUS MAXIMUS, SPARUS AURATA)

Available from UMI in association with The British Library.; The occurrence of solar UV radiation in the aquatic environment and its effects on fish were reviewed. Findings indicated the potential for solar UV-B radiation to act as an important environmental stressor for cultivated fish.; Laboratory studies were undertaken to investigate the effects of UV-B radiation on two commercially important fish species, turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.) and gilthead bream Sparus aurata L. for which farming techniques are currently being developed. Stress caused by UV-B radiation exposure was evaluated based on behaviour, growth performance physiological blood parameters and SEM examination of the integument surface.; Gross effects occurred with only limited radiation exposure, and behavioural changes indicated the occurrence of tissue disruption. Growth performance was adversely affected with specific growth rate and food conversion efficiency found to decline with increasing radiation dose. Blood parameters were disrupted and the integument surface structure was damaged at extremely low radiation doses. Turbot were far more susceptible to radiation damage than were gilthead bream.; The application of laboratory findings to the natural environment is critically discussed and the results obtained evaluated with respect to commercial fish cultivation.