Cultivo integrado de la oreja de mar Haliotis tuberculata coccinea en sistemas flotantes en mar abierto: Efecto de la talla y densidad de cultivo en el crecimiento

Abstract

A pioneer pilot-scale system for the sea-based culture of abalone, Haliotis tuberculata coccinea, Reeve, using a hybrid open– water/land design was investigated over a 6-mo period. The effects of stocking densities on the growth performance, feed utilization and survival of two initial size groups were determined. On-growing trials were installed in a commercial open-sea cages fish farm. The animals were fed a mixed diet of the red algae Gracilaria cornea and the green one Ulva rigida, reared in a land-based fish-seaweeds integrated culture system. There was an inverse relationship between growth and stocking density. Survival was very high (94-98%) and not influenced by culture conditions. Results showed high growth of H.t. coccinea even at high densities, suggesting that both, sea-based and integrated seaweed-based systems, are bound to play a major role to develop a sustainable and profitable abalone aquaculture in the Canary Islands.