Quality characteristics of sea bass intensively reared and from lagoon as affected by growth conditions and the aquatic environment

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) of commercial size free-living in the lagoon of Orbetello (Tuscany, Italy) and from intensive rearing were compared for proximate composition, essential and toxic metals, unsaponifiable lipids, and for the fatty acid profile of total, neutral, and polar lipids. Farmed sea bass had a total lipid content (10.57 +/- 0.17 g/100 g) significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.001) than fish in the wild (1.78 +/- 0.01 g/100 g). Fish from either productive systems showed comparably high total polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and n-3/n-6 ratio values. Differences in the mineral content occurred among fish, particularly in the levels of mercury and selenium, significantly higher in those from the lagoon.