Feasibility of Offshore Co‐culture of Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, and Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, in a Temperate Zone. Issue 4 (2nd August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Zhanhui; Wang, Jun; Mao, Yuze; Liu, Hongmei; Fang, Jianguang
• Is Part Of: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. Volume 44:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 573
• Publication Date: 2013-08-02
• Subjects: Aquaculture -- Periodicals; 639.8
• DOI: 10.1111/jwas.12056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0893-8849

Abstract

Abstract: Feasibility of offshore co‐culture of abalone and sea cucumber was investigated in Northern China. Survival and growth of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, and sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, co‐cultured in abalone cages from suspended longlines, in the offshore area, were examined. Abalone and sea cucumbers were co‐cultured at density ratios of both 3:1 and 6:1 for 1 yr. Abalone were fed with fresh kelp and no additional feed was given to sea cucumbers. Survival of abalone and sea cucumber was 100% for all treatments. Abalone and sea cucumber grew well; the body weight (BW) of abalone and sea cucumber was nearly doubled and had reached a commercial size. There were no significant differences in the growth rates for both abalone and sea cucumber between the two density treatments. The specific growth rate of BW of abalone (SGRbw) was highest in June, with a value of 0.536%/d. Growth rate of sea cucumber (SGRsc) was highest in December, reached 1.84%/d, with an annual average SGRsc of 0.182%/d. Results suggested that the offshore co‐culture of abalone and sea cucumber was feasible offshore. The co‐culture of abalone with sea cucumbers may provide an additional valuable crop without additional financial input.