A growth model for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Abstract

This paper presents a growth model for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), which is one of the most culture species in the Mediterranean area. The model is designed by means of stochastic differential equations, and is based on previous research for other species [Modelisation de la Croissance des Poissons en Elevage, 1990]. Fish growth is assumed to be influenced by three fundamental factors: fish weight, water temperature, and ration size. The formulation incorporates fish physiology theory, requiring fewer specific parameters than other bionenergetic models. Empirical data were obtained from culture in the Canary Islands waters for a 30-month period. Some simulations were run to validate the model. Although the influence of water temperature on fish growth might need to be refined, satisfactory results are obtained. Two environmental scenarios are also examined, the "Atlantic" and "Mediterranean," which vary in the annual cycles of water temperature. The results produce significant differences in the growth patterns between both areas, suggesting potential economic implications for the cultivation of larger commercial sizes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.