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Release size and stocking density for grow-out of Apostichopus japonicus in the sea with raft-cultured macroalgae

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Abstract

Sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, is the main cultured species in China. The main culture style for this species is the sea ranching model. Field trials were conducted in bottom-cages to preliminary reveal optimal releasing size, as well as maximum density of A. japonicus in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture sea ranching area. Different sizes (4–30 g ind−1) and densities (336–1342 g m−2) of sea cucumbers were cultured for 13 months in Rongcheng Bay, Shandong Province, China. The size experiment showed that sea cucumber of all sizes grew throughout the experimental period. Sea cucumbers <15 g had high mortality in summer and low SGR in winter, while larger individual (>20 g ind−1) had no advantage of growth. Sea cucumber sizes of 15–20 g may be suitable for release, considering their higher survival rate and SGR. The density experiment showed that the high biomass group had a low SGR and that the maximum release biomass was 793 g m−2 based on a regression analysis. The optimal practical release season for sea cucumber was spring based on the results of two field experiments.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41406164), the National Marine Public Welfare Research Project (No. 201305043), and the National Key Technology R&D Program (Nos. 2011BAD13B02, 2010BAC68B01) and Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science and Engineering, SOA (MESE-2013-05), Important Specialized Science and Technology Project in Shandong province (NO. 2015ZDZX05002) and Agricultural major technology innovation project of Shandong province: breeding, technology and equipment of high quality sea cucumber.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Nanhai Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Xu Qinzeng, Zhang Libin, Zhou Yi & Yang Hongsheng

  2. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science and Engineering, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, China

    Xu Qinzeng & Zhang Xuelei

  3. Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Zhang Libin, Zhang Xuelei, Zhou Yi & Yang Hongsheng

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  1. Xu Qinzeng
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  2. Zhang Libin
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  3. Zhang Xuelei
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  4. Zhou Yi
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  5. Yang Hongsheng
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Correspondence to Zhang Libin or Yang Hongsheng.

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Qinzeng, X., Libin, Z., Xuelei, Z. et al. Release size and stocking density for grow-out of Apostichopus japonicus in the sea with raft-cultured macroalgae. Aquacult Int 24, 1141–1152 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-9976-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-9976-1

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