Nagasaki Professor Explores Night Feeding to Fatten Fish
feeding them at night. This research, conducted at the Nagasaki Kakuyo High School's fisheries training facility, aims to leverage the principles of chrono-nutrition, which focuses on the timing of food intake, to increase the fat content of fish in a shorter period.
Hirasaka's team compared two groups of white trevally, one fed at 8 am and the other at 7 pm. After a month, the night-fed fish exhibited significantly higher levels of neutral fat in their blood and muscles, resulting in a richer flavor.
This phenomenon is attributed to a disruption in the fish's biological clock caused by irregular night meals. The study suggests that the disruption triggers a metabolic disorder, leading to increased fat accumulation.
Hirasaka's research holds potential for the "Japan Buri" project, which aims to breed fattier yellowtail for export. This natural approach could offer an advantage over methods like genome editing or drug use, potentially increasing consumer acceptance.
The study also provided valuable hands-on experience for students at the high school, fostering their interest in scientific research and university-level studies.