Rearing protocols for
Atlantic Halibut larvae during transition from endogenous to exogenous
nutrition
Aquaflow Technical Leaflet 2002-UK002
European Network for the Dissemination of Aquaculture
RTD Information (Q5CA-2000-30105) and previously FAIR-3837, URL: http://www.aquaflow.org/
The hatchery process for Atlantic halibut
(Hippoglossus hippoglossus L) is fairly well established but still
remains constrained by relatively low survivals of hatchlings (12%). A
consistent improvement in survival would help ensure a rapid development of
the sector as the potentials for halibut farming in the UK is very good
attracting a medium term market scale of around 10,000 tonnes. The research
programme was designed to provide information which should enable the
industry to optimise this phase of the rearing cycle. It focused research on
the environments of the two inter-related stages; yolk sac and first
feeding.
Preliminary trials demonstrated the potential of
small-scale yolk sac larval culture in bowls for the study of temperature
and handling stress. Further examination of
the development of sense organs, the cupulae of neuromasts in yolk
sac larva revealed them to be very delicate and open to damage during
culture. Additionally
neuromasts that surround the olfactory pits were found to be poorly
developed in larvae that failed to feed. The UK industry is already making
its own attempts to overcome the problems in this phase of rearing, but the
work was highly empirical in nature and there was little fundamental
knowledge available upon which hatchery operators could base their trial
strategies. As results from the proposed research programme become available
they are immediately transferred to industry for consideration and uptake.
Over a 3 to 5 year time frame the industry would expect to consistently
improve hatchery success rates by a factor of at least 3 and preferably
higher as a result of this project. This corresponds to a period of
financial profitability and security for this emerging industrial sector.
This work is being sponsored by the Ministry of
Agriculture Food and Fisheries (MAFF) and conducted by Dunstaffnage Marine
Laboratory, The Scottish Association for Marine Science, The University of
Glasgow and the Seafish Industry Authority in Ardtoe with the assistance of
the British Marine Finfish Association.
For more information:
FISHERIES RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
c/o Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory
Faskally-Pitlochry
Perthshire, PH16 5LB
United Kingdom
Phone : +44 1796 472060
Fax : +44 1796 473523
E-mail:
majames@frmltd.com