The Athens Sessions

Episode 7 Sebastien Rider - The Athens Sessions

Rider discusses the essential role of vitamin D in aquafeeds – from supporting fish welfare and skeletal health to enhancing feed efficiency and product quality.

Speaking to The Fish Site's Rob Fletcher, Rider explains why farmed fish depend almost entirely on dietary vitamin D, and how deficiencies can stunt growth, weaken bones and leave salmon especially vulnerable to skin damage during sea lice treatments. He also highlights the economic benefits of supplementation, given its effect on feed conversion – the biggest cost driver in aquaculture.

Looking ahead, Rider introduces Hi-D, a new form of vitamin D that improves bioavailability and early trials suggest boosts growth, bone strength and fillet quality. He also touches on the vitamin's wider role in regulating immunity and metabolism across vertebrates.

The Fish Site team discusses some of the most pressing issues facing the aquaculture industry – and the innovative ways of tackling these issues – with a selection of the sector’s pre-eminent figures at DSM-Firmenich’s recent Global Aqua Days event in Vienna.

The series of interviews gives a broad range of perspectives – from shrimp farmers looking to improve their production skills; to sectoral trends from leading industry analysts; to the scientists who are working to improve the nutrition, health and welfare of fish and shrimp. Available in video and podcast formats, this is an exclusive opportunity to learn directly from the experts themselves.