Lecturer in Nutrition
Institute of Aquaculture Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Working Towards Adaptive And Versatile Environmental Sustainability In Mollusc Aquaculture (WAVES)
PI: Dr Andrew Desbois
Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
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Article
Composition of sandhopper, Talitrus saltator and potential as a novel aquaculture feed
Albalat A, Spence R, Sprague M & Powell A (2025) Composition of sandhopper, Talitrus saltator and potential as a novel aquaculture feed. Crustacean Research, 54, pp. 9-17. https://doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.54.0_9
Article
Tocher DR, Sprague M, Han L, Sayanova O, Norambuena F, Napier JA & Betancor MB (2024) Inclusion of oil from transgenic Camelina sativa in feed effectively supplies EPA and DHA to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) grown to market size in seawater pens. Food Chemistry.
Article
Wischhusen P, Betancor MB, Sprague M, Ortega A, de la Gándara F, Tocher DR & Mourente G (2023) Molecular Antioxidant Functions are Enhanced in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus, L.) Larvae Fed Selenium Enriched Rotifers Brachionus Rotundiformis. Antioxidants, 12 (1), Art. No.: 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12010026
Article
Betancor MB, Sprague M, González-Silvera D, Ortega A, de la Gándara F, Gong X, Napier JA, Tocher DR & Mourente G (2022) Oils Derived from GM Crops as Sustainable Solutions to the Supply of Long-Chain Omega-3 for On-Growing Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.). Fishes, 7 (6), Art. No.: 366. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7060366
Article
Cutajar K, Falconer L, Massa-Gallucci A, Cox RE, Schenke L, Bardócz T, Andolina C, Signa G, Vizzini S, Sprague M & Telfer TC (2022) Stable isotope and fatty acid analysis reveal the ability of sea cucumbers to use fish farm waste in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. Journal of Environmental Management, 318, Art. No.: 115511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115511
Article
Iodine Content of Wild and Farmed Seafood and Its Estimated Contribution to UK Dietary Iodine Intake
Sprague M, Chau TC & Givens DI (2022) Iodine Content of Wild and Farmed Seafood and Its Estimated Contribution to UK Dietary Iodine Intake. Nutrients, 14 (1), Art. No.: 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010195
Article
Export-driven, extensive coastal aquaculture can benefit nutritionally vulnerable people
Mamun A, Murray FJ, Sprague M, Mcadam BJ, Roos N, De Roos B, Pounds A & Little DC (2021) Export-driven, extensive coastal aquaculture can benefit nutritionally vulnerable people. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, Art. No.: 713140. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.713140
Article
Malcorps W, Newton RW, Sprague M, Glencross BD & Little DC (2021) Nutritional characterisation of European aquaculture processing by-products to facilitate strategic utilisation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, Art. No.: 720595. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.720595
Article
Fatty acid and lipid class composition in cutaneous mucus of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.)
Sprague M & Desbois AP (2021) Fatty acid and lipid class composition in cutaneous mucus of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.). Aquaculture Research, 52 (12), pp. 6808-6813. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15512
Article
Betancor M, MacEwan A, Sprague M, Gong X, Montero D, Han L, Napier J, Norambuena F, Izquierdo M & Tocher D (2021) Oil from transgenic Camelina sativa as a source of EPA and DHA in feed for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). Aquaculture, 530, Art. No.: 735759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735759
Article
Baltadakis A, Casserly J, Falconer L, Sprague M & Telfer TC (2020) European lobsters utilise Atlantic salmon wastes in coastal integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 12, pp. 485-494. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00378
Article
Sprague M, Fawcett S, Betancor M, Struthers W & Tocher D (2020) Variation in the nutritional composition of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fillets with emphasis on EPA and DHA contents. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 94, Art. No.: 103618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103618
Article
Can mesopelagic mixed layers be used as feed sources for salmon aquaculture?
Olsen RE, Strand E, Melle W, Nørstebø J, Lall S, Ringø E, Tocher DR & Sprague M (2020) Can mesopelagic mixed layers be used as feed sources for salmon aquaculture?. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 180, Art. No.: 104722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2019.104722
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Ortega A, de la Gándara F, Tocher D, Ruth R, Perkins E & Mourente G (2020) Central and peripheral clocks in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.): Daily rhythmicity of hepatic lipid metabolism and digestive genes. Aquaculture, 523, Art. No.: 735220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735220
Article
Sprague M, Xu G, Betancor MB, Olsen RE, Torrissen O, Glencross BD & Tocher DR (2019) Endogenous production of n-3 long-chain PUFA from first feeding and the influence of dietary linoleic acid and the α-linolenic:linoleic ratio in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). British Journal of Nutrition, 122 (10), pp. 1090-1102. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114519001946
Article
Tocher D, Betancor M, Sprague M, Olsen R & Napier J (2019) Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA: Bridging the Gap between Supply and Demand. Nutrients, 11 (1), Art. No.: 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010089
Article
Sprague M, Cooper S, Tocher DR & Betancor MB (2018) Encapsulated fish oil products available in the UK meet regulatory guidelines with respect to EPA + DHA contents and oxidative status. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 120 (10), Art. No.: 1800105. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.201800105
Article
Betancor M, Li K, Bucerzan V, Sprague M, Sayanova O, Usher S, Han L, Norambuena F, Torrisen O, Napier JA, Tocher DR & Olsen RE (2018) Oil from transgenic Camelina sativa containing over 25 % n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids as the major lipid source in feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). British Journal of Nutrition, 119 (12), pp. 1378-1392. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518001125
Article
Microbial and genetically engineered oils as replacements for fish oil in aquaculture feeds
Sprague M, Betancor MB & Tocher DR (2017) Microbial and genetically engineered oils as replacements for fish oil in aquaculture feeds. Biotechnology Letters, 39 (11), pp. 1599-1609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2402-6
Article
de Roos B, Sneddon A, Sprague M, Horgan G & Brouwer I (2017) The potential impact of compositional changes in farmed fish on its health-giving properties: is it time to reconsider current dietary recommendations?. Public Health Nutrition, 20 (11), pp. 2042-2049. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017000696
Conference Abstract
Sprague M, Betancor M, Dick JR & Tocher DR (2017) Nutritional evaluation of seafood, with respect to long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, available to UK consumers. Nutrition Society Spring Conference 2017: Nutrition and exercise for health and performance, Stirling, 28/03/2017 - 29/03/2017. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76 (OCE2), p. E38. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/nutritional-evaluation-of-seafood-with-respect-to-longchain-omega3-fatty-acids-available-to-uk-consumers/81A58EB320FD82BA230C54AEB88D4539; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665117000945
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Montero D, Usher S, Sayanova O, Campbell P, Napier JA, Caballero MJ, Izquierdo MS & Tocher DR (2017) Erratum to: Replacement of Marine Fish Oil with de novo Omega-3 Oils from Transgenic Camelina sativa in Feeds for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.). Lipids, 52 (5), p. 463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4248-z
Article
Betancor M, Li K, Sprague M, Bardal T, Sayanova O, Usher S, Han L, Masoval K, Torrissen O, Napier JA, Tocher DR & Olsen RE (2017) An oil containing EPA and DHA from transgenic Camelina sativa to replace marine fish oil in feeds for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): Effects on intestinal transcriptome, histology, tissue fatty acid profiles and plasma biochemistry. PLoS ONE, 12 (4), Art. No.: e0175415. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175415
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Montero D, Usher S, Sayanova O, Campbell P, Napier JA, Caballero MJ, Izquierdo MS & Tocher DR (2016) Replacement of Marine Fish Oil with de novo Omega-3 Oils from Transgenic Camelina sativa in Feeds for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.). Lipids, 51 (10), pp. 1171-1191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-016-4191-4
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Sayanova O, Usher S, Metochis C, Campbell P, Napier JA & Tocher DR (2016) Nutritional evaluation of an EPA-DHA oil from transgenic Camelina sativa in feeds for post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). PLoS ONE, 11 (7), Art. No.: e0159934. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159934
Article
Bell JG, Strachan F, Roy W, Matthew C, McDonald P, Barrows F & Sprague M (2016) Evaluation of barley protein concentrate and fish protein concentrate, made from trimmings, as sustainable ingredients in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) feeds. Aquaculture Nutrition, 22 (2), pp. 326-334. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12250
Article
Sprague M, Dick JR & Tocher DR (2016) Impact of sustainable feeds on omega-3 long-chain fatty acid levels in farmed Atlantic salmon, 2006–2015. Scientific Reports, 6, Art. No.: 21892. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep21892
Article
Sprague M, Walton J, Campbell P, Strachan F, Dick JR & Bell JG (2015) Replacement of fish oil with a DHA-rich algal meal derived from Schizochytrium sp. on the fatty acid and persistent organic pollutant levels in diets and flesh of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.) post-smolts. Food Chemistry, 185, pp. 413-421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.03.150
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Sayanova O, Usher S, Campbell P, Napier JA, Caballero MJ & Tocher DR (2015) Evaluation of a high-EPA oil from transgenic Camelina sativa in feeds for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): Effects on tissue fatty acid composition, histology and gene expression. Aquaculture, 444, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.03.020
Article
Betancor M, Almaida P, Sprague M, Hernandez A & Tocher DR (2015) Roles of selenoprotein antioxidant protection in zebrafish, Danio rerio, subjected to dietary oxidative stress. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 41 (3), pp. 705-720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-015-0040-2
Article
Betancor M, Sprague M, Usher S, Sayanova O, Campbell P, Napier JA & Tocher DR (2015) A nutritionally-enhanced oil from transgenic Camelina sativa effectively replaces fish oil as a source of eicosapentaenoic acid for fish. Scientific Reports, 5, Art. No.: 8104. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep08104
Article
Sprague M, Dick JR, Medina A, Tocher DR, Bell JG & Mourente G (2012) Lipid and fatty acid composition, and persistent organic pollutant levels in tissues of migrating Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) broodstock. Environmental Pollution, 171, pp. 61-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.07.021
Article
Bell JG, Dick JR, Strachan F, Guy DR, Berntssen MHG & Sprague M (2012) Complete replacement of fish oil with a blend of vegetable oils affects dioxin, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 3 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) families differing in flesh adiposity. Aquaculture, 324-325, pp. 118-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.11.004
Article
Leclercq E, Taylor J, Sprague M & Migaud H (2011) The potential of alternative lighting-systems to suppress pre-harvest sexual maturation of 1+ Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts reared in commercial sea-cages. Aquacultural Engineering, 44 (2), pp. 35-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2010.12.001
Article
Sprague M, Bendiksen EA, Dick JR, Strachan F, Pratoomyot J, Berntssen MHG, Tocher DR & Bell JG (2010) Effects of decontaminated fish oil or a fish and vegetable oil blend on persistent organic pollutant and fatty acid compositions in diet and flesh of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). British Journal of Nutrition, 103 (10), pp. 1442-1451. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510000139
Article
Bell JG, Sprague M, Bendiksen EA, Dick JR, Strachan F, Pratoomyot J, Berntssen MHG & Tocher DR (2008) Using Decontaminated Fish Oil or a Vegetable/Fish Oil Blend to Reduce Organic Contaminant Concentrations in Diets and Flesh of Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar). Organohalogen Compounds, 70, pp. 894-897.
Other
Shining the light on salmon: Part 2. New concepts and developments
Migaud H, Davie A, Taylor J & Sprague M (2006) Shining the light on salmon: Part 2. New concepts and developments. Outlook, (26).
Other
Shining the light on salmon: Part 1. Current knowledge
Migaud H, Davie A, Taylor J & Sprague M (2006) Shining the light on salmon: Part 1. Current knowledge. Outlook, (25).
Newspaper Article
New species - new lighting techniques
Migaud H, Davie A, Taylor J, North BP & Sprague M (2004) New species - new lighting techniques. Fish Farming International. 05.2004.
