Feasibility of co-culture of the Australasian sea cucumber (Australostichopus mollis) with the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in northern New Zealand |
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Authors: | LN Zamora J Dollimore AG Jeffs |
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Institution: | 1. Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealandlzam004@aucklanduni.ac.nz;3. Biomarine Ltd, Warkworth, New Zealand;4. Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | The Australasian sea cucumber (Australostichopus mollis) has attracted commercial attention for aquaculture development, partly due to its potential for co-culture with shellfish and finfish species. However, minimal attention has been given to the possibility of co-culturing this species with oysters. In this study we evaluated the growth of juvenile sea cucumbers (36.7 ± 0.9 g, wet weight) caged underneath Pacific oyster farms in northern New Zealand. Co-culture started at the end of the summer, and after 304 days the juveniles had doubled in size (79.8 ± 3.3 g, wet weight), but their subsequent growth appeared to be constrained by overstocking of the cages and summer water temperatures, reaching a carrying capacity of 720 g m?2. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the co-culture of juvenile sea cucumbers with Pacific oysters is feasible, if sea cucumber losses are reduced (between 33% and 52% lost in this study) and careful attention is given to stocking rates and the water temperature regimes of oyster farms in order to maintain adequate growth rates. |
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Keywords: | Australostichopus mollis biodeposits co-culture Crassostrea gigas integrated multitrophic aquaculture New Zealand Pacific oyster sea cucumber sea ranching |
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