The objective of this research is to identify new and effective methods to assess the actual nutritional quality of the fish and its potential dietary and preventive effects. For this purpose magnetic resonance imaging (MIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy will be used. Such methodologies will be compared with conventional systems analysis. The surveys will be conducted using some of the most widespread species of marine and freshwater fish and using foods, conditions and farming systems to get products of high nutritional quality, to be compared with products of average and or low quality obtained with conventional systems. With the aim to verify the effectiveness of nutrition programs during different Seasons, the breeding cycles will be designed in such a way as to cover the range of conditions that occur throughout the year. With the aim to control the environmental and rearing variables that may affect the final quality of the fish, we will use comparable systems of breeding and the conditions and main events of farming will be monitored and recorded on a regular basis. At the end of each production cycle, some samples, instead of being sent to the market, will be subject to MRI survays and, by designed samplings, to NMR, SEM, optical microscopy and some conventional systems analysis. In this way we can assess the actual availability of nutrients during storage, preparation and cooking.
