The first annual "Live Feeds" workshop was held December 4-5th at Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. It focused on recent developments in the production of larval and juvenile marine fish with special emphasis on nutrition, feeding, and the rearing of various living prey such as rotifers and brine shrimp.
The program included an opening presentation by Dr. Craig Clarke of the Pacific Biological station on the state of marine fish research on this coast. Dr. Hagiwara of Nagasaki University Japan and Dr. Gidon Minkoff, curently at Island Scallops, presented new methods of rotifer culture including ultra high-density culture (20-30,000 rotifers per ml) and the use of different rotifer strains to provide an expanded size spectrum. Dr. Jeff Marliave of the Vancouver Aquarium discussed his success in raising sensitive marine larvae with Artemia, trochophores, copepods and Gordon Jones of Innovative Aquaculture discussed the use of trochophores in larval feeding.
The enrichment of live feeds was a major topic with comparisons made between various commercial HUFA mixtures as well as traditional algae concentrates. Dr. Moti Harel from the University of Maryland presented information on the nutritional and dietary requirements of marine fish larvae. Heterotrophic Chlorella culture systems in Japan were described. In these, the algae, grown in a special medium, concentrated very high levels of DHA and EPA in favorable ratios. The kinetics of DHA and EPA were discussed and ARA (arachidonic acid) was added to the list of EFA's.
Jonathon Moir of Sea Forest Plantation, Newfoundland and Dr. Joe Brown of Memorial University gave updates on halibut culture in Norway and on Atlantic cod culture in Newfoundland. Dramatic progress has been made in Atlantic cod and black cod culture in BC as well as several other species of marine fish on both coasts. It became very apparent that we are much nearer than most of us have realized to a significant diversification of marine fish culture in Canada.
Recent developments in artificial microfeeds were reviewed and the prospects of early weaning were presented by Dr. Chris Langdon of the Hatfield Marine Center of Oregon State University. There has been great progress in this area with many types of feed particles now available.
The workshop ended with a trip to the Biological Station where black cod research has been done for many years, and where halibut and other species have also been studied, and to Island Scallops Hatchery to see the new building built under the direction of Gidon Minkoff for the rearing of black cod and other species of marine fish.
(article by B. Pennell and L. Townsend in Northern Aquaculture, 4(1), January 1998)