Development of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture using sea cucumber
spo.nmfs.noaa.gov Abstract
In Southeast Asian countries, aquaculture production continues to increase. Environmental deterioration associated with water and sediment eutrophication by aquaculture effluent has been problematic, sometimes resulting in disease outbreaks and fish kills due to hypoxia and hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) is one of the promising measures for sustainable aquaculture. In this study, a box model estimation of nitrogen (N) budget based on experimental data and values from literature was made for a system of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) in sea cage IMTA with milkfish (Chanos chanos) and Elkhorn sea moss (Kappaphycus alvarezii).
Information on stocking density, stocking size, mortality, growth, feed ration, feed assimilation, NH4-N production and NH4-N absorption of these species was obtained from a series of experiments and existing literature. In the production system 26 g milkfish were cultured in a 5 x 5 x 4 m cage at the stocking density of 36.7 ind/m3 with the initial feeding ration of 10% of body weight which was gradually decreased to 4% over time; 10 g sandfish were cultured in a cage with the same bottom area as milkfish cage hanged under the milkfish cage to trap particulate N waste (i.e. feces and leftover feed) at the stocking density of 35 ind/m2; the stocking weight of Elkhorn sea moss line culture was 10 kg; culturing period was 200 days.
It was estimated that milkfish culture cumulatively produced 145 kg of particulate N, and milkfish and sandfish together produced 60 kg of NH4-N in 200 days of culture. Daily assimilation rate of the particulate N by sandfish ranged 3.4 - 12.4%, and 4.3% of the particulate N was estimated to be removed by sandfish in 200 days of culture. Daily absorption rate of NH4-N by Elkhorn sea moss increased exponentially with time and reached 100% after 125 days of culture. Cumulative NH4-N was estimated to be depleted after 162 days of culture. For complete utilization of particulate N by the end of culture, sandfish stocking density should be 805 ind/m2, which is 200 times as high as that in existing sandfish aquaculture operations.
Citation
Watanabe, S., Kodama, M., Sumbing, J. G., & Lebata-Ramos, M. J. H. (2017). Development of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture using sea cucumber. In K. Gruenthal, P. Olin, M. Rust, & E. Trentacoste (Eds.), Genetics in Aquaculture: Proceedings of the 42nd U.S.-Japan Aquaculture Panel Symposium, La Jolla, CA, October 1, 2014 (pp. 80-87). Silver Spring, MD: United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Publisher
United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries ServiceSeries
NOAA technical memorandum; NMFS-F/SPO-168Subject
Type
Conference paperCollections
- Conference Proceedings [283]
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Conference paper
Overview of sea cucumber aquaculture and sea-ranching research in the South-East Asian region
- In CA Hair, TD Pickering & DJ Mills (Eds.), Asia-Pacific tropical sea cucumber aquaculture. Proceedings of an international symposium held in Noumea, New Caledonia, 15-17 February 2011, 2012 - Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Series: ACIAR Proceedings; No. 136South-East Asia has traditionally been the global centre of production of tropical sea cucumbers for Chinese markets. Early research into culture methods took place outside this region, notably in India, the Pacific region and China. However, recent investment in Holothuria scabra (sandfish) culture has led to some significant advances within this region. The Philippines and Vietnam have been at the forefront of recent efforts, with involvement from substantial national programs and local institutions as well as international donors and scientific organisations. Smaller programs are ongoing in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Recent advances and simplifications in hatchery techniques are a major step forward, having promoted the development of experimental-scale sea-ranching ventures, and given rise to a small, commercial pond-based culture industry in Vietnam. Technology developments in nursery systems are likely to provide opportunities for culture enterprises in a broader range of environments than is now possible. A major research thrust in the Philippines towards developing cooperative sea-ranching enterprises has demonstrated good potential, and institutional/legislative arrangements to ensure adequate property rights have been tested. Rotational culture with shrimp is proving successful in Vietnam, while the possibility of proximate co-culture of sandfish and shrimp has largely been ruled out. Small-scale experiments in the Philippines raise the possibility of co-culture in ponds with a number of finfish species. Current research directions are looking at diversifying technology to increase success in a range of coastal conditions, better understanding the social and biophysical conditions required for success, and finding ways of effectively scaling-out developed systems and technology. -
Conference paper
Resource assessment of sea cucumber in northern Iloilo, central Philippines
- In MRR Romana-Eguia, FD Parado-Estepa, ND Salayo & MJH Lebata-Ramos (Eds.), Resource Enhancement and Sustainable Aquaculture Practices in Southeast Asia: Challenges in Responsible Production … International Workshop on Resource Enhancement and Sustainable Aquaculture Practices in Southeast Asia 2014 (RESA), 2015 - Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterA resource assessment of sea cucumber was conducted in six out of eight coastal towns in northern Iloilo, a fisheries rich area facing the Visayan Sea in the central Philippines. A yearlong assessment was conducted in 2012. Fishery dependent survey was done with the use of survey questionnaire translated into dialect. Six trained enumerators administered the questionnaires to 114 gatherers and 18 local traders. Fishery independent survey involving Belt Transect Method (BTM) for intertidal areas and Timed-Search Method (TSM) for subtidal areas were conducted in 21 GPS (Global Positioning System)-referenced sampling stations. Sample specimens were also collected and prepared for taxonomic identification. External morphology, internal structures (dissected samples) and spicule analysis were used in the identification. Fishery dependent survey showed that gleaning (40%) is the most dominant extraction method used. Various methods were also employed including the dangerous compressor diving and the destructive karas, a method using a rake-like device to scrape the sea bed. In terms of volume, the most heavily exploited sea cucumber belongs to the Stichopus groups. The trade of sea cucumber is dominated by island-based traders. Almost half of the traders are women, signifying that trading is a woman's domain as well. Derived monthly income from sea cucumber trade ranges from PhP 2,000-3,000 for gatherers and PhP 2,000-5,000 for the traders. Fishery independent survey resulted in the identification of six sea cucumber genera (Bohadschia, Holothuria, Paracaudina, Pseudocholochirus and Stichopus). Of the 32 species found belonging to the six genera, only 16 were identified up to the species level. Samples of unidentified specimen were sent to the University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) laboratory for molecular taxonomic identification. In terms of species count, the most dominant genera is the Holothuria with nine identified and seven unidentified species. H. impatiens is also the most dominant sea cucumber found in the area. Further, the recorded catch per unit effort (CPUE) for fishery-independent survey is 3-4 pcs/diver/hr. The resource assessment showed that the trade of sea cucumber is dictated by economic value rather than by ecological abundance. While the scale and extent of sea cucumber fishery in northern Iloilo is small-scale and island based, the study highlights the need for trade regulation and stock enhancement of heavily exploited species as extraction affects the ecological distribution of sea cucumber stocks in the area. -
Brochure
Sea cucumber hatchery and nursery production
- 2018 - Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterContains information on the hatchery and nursery culture of the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra.
