Developing suitable colour in the gonads of cultured green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)

Two experiments were designed to investigate the efficiency of transfer of pigment from prepared, moist-extruded diets to the gonad of the green sea urchin. Eight different sources of pigments were used in two concentrations and measured at 3- and 6-week intervals. Colour was measured with a reflected-light fiber-optic spectrophotometer using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* units of measurement. Distinct differences were found among the pigment sources that could be easily discerned quantitatively with the colour measurement system. The best pigment source tested was a beta-carotene product derived from spray-dried algae, Duneliella salina, (Algro(TM)) at a concentration of 250 mg beta-carotene/kg dry weight of feed. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.