1. Measure concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5(n-3) and 22:6)n-3) in microalgae & other feedstocks used in Australian hatchies.

2. Survey the lipid and fatty acid content of microalage to determine characteristic distributions for the major algal classes and to identify new species of use to the Australian mariculture industry, particularly in tropical hatcheries.

3. Identify the effects of different environmental conditions on fatty acid and lipid composition of microalgae by comparing cultures grown under a variety of defined conditions, and hence determine how to optimise fatty acid content .

4. Assess the effects of algal foods with different fatty acid contents on animal production in support of animal growth trial with bivalve molluscs, particularly the oyster Crassostrea gigas, carried out as part of FIRDC grant 90/063.

5. Identify the effects of various diets (rotifers and copepods) which have different fatty acid compositions on the growth and survival of fish larvae in support of experiments carried out by the staff from the Tasmanian Division of Sea Fisheries

6. Assist the fishing and mariculture industries with advice on the nutrition of marine organisms, and provide a service for the analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other lipids in marine samples.