Abstract
A bottleneck for re-establishment or enhancement of lobster (Homarus gammarus L.) populations through release of hatchery-produced juveniles is ineffective and expensive juvenile production. In this study, we cultured lobster juveniles from stage V to a size being suitable for re-establishment or enhancement purposes (40–50 mm total length) in cages submerged under existing facilities for culture of bivalves. The lobsters were not feed or tended during the culture period (6–14 months). The survival and growth rates were similar or higher compared to what has been achieved with other methods used for culture of lobster juveniles in the past. The highest survival (82–89%) and fastest growth (4–5 cm total length over 190–250 days) were achieved using commercial oyster baskets. It is believed that the juveniles fed on naturally occurring plankton and organisms growing inside the cages. Thus, the current study shows that it is possible to culture lobster juveniles for reestablishment or enhancement purposes in a way that would involve less investments and operational costs than earlier used methods as there would be no need for artificial heating of water, for large buildings or for continuous feeding and tending of large numbers of juveniles.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agnalt A-L, van der Meeren GI, Jørstad KI, Næss H, Farestveit E, Nøstvold E, Korsøen E, Ydstebø L, Svåsand T (1999) Stock enhancement of European lobster (Homarus gammarus); a large scale experiment off southwestern Norway (Kvitsøy). In: Howell B, Moksness E, Svåsand T (eds) Stock enhancement and sea ranching. Blackwell Scientific Press, London, pp 401–419
Agnalt A-L, Kristiansen TS, Joerstad KE (2007) Growth, reproductive cycle, and movement of berried European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) in a local stock off southwestern Norway. ICES J Mar Sci 64:288–297
Barshaw DE (1989) Growth and survival of postlarval lobsters Homarus americanus on a diet of plankton. Fish Bull 87:366–370
Beal BF, Chapman SR (2001) Methods for mass rearing stages IIV larvae of the American lobster, Homarus americanus H. Milne Edwards, 1837, in static systems. J Shellfish Res 20:337–346
Beal BF, Mercer JP, O’Conghaile A (2002) Survival and growth of hatchery-reared individuals of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus (L.), in field-based nursery cages on the Irish west coast. Aquaculture 210:137–157
Browne R (1999) Studies on the European clawed lobster Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus 1758), fisheries practices, resource management, cultivation and stock enhancement techniques with observations on the fishery and larval cultivation of spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius 1787). Dissertation, National University of Ireland
Browne R, Mercer JP (1998) The European clawed lobster (Homarus gammarus): stock enhancement in the Republic of Ireland. In: Gendron L (ed) Proceedings of a workshop on lobster stock enhancement held in the Magdalen Islands (Quebec) from 29 to 31 Oct 1997. Canadian Industry Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol 244, pp 33–41
Browne RM, Mercer JP, Duncan MJ (2001) An historical overview of the Republic of Ireland’s lobster (Homarus gammarus Linnaeus) fishery, with reference to European and North American (Homarus americanus Milne Edwards) lobster landings. Hydrobiologia 465:49–62
Browne R, Perez Benavente G, Uglem I, Marino Balsa JC (2009) An illustrated hatchery guide for the production of clawed lobster (using a green water technique). Aquaculture explained. Number 23—January 2009, shellfish file, Irish Sea Fisheries Board, Galway, Ireland, 34 pp
Burton CA (1991) Summary of 1990 lobster production, project AR-14, lobster stock enhancement. Sea Fish Industry Authority, Marine Farming Unit, Ardtoe, Scotland, p 5
Burton CA (1992) Techniques of lobster stock enhancement. Sea Fish Industry Authority, Marine Farming Unit, Ardtoe, Scotland, p 36
Figueiro Casas R, Cuña Casabellas MA (1991) A batea como sistema de cultivo. Consellería de Pesca, Marisqueo e Acuicultura. ISBN 84-453-0497-6
Grimsen S, Jaques RN, Erenst V, Balchen JG (1987) Aspects of automation in a lobster farming plant. Model Identif Control 8:61–68
Jørstad KE, Agnalt A-L, Kristiansen TS, Nøstvold E (2001) High survival and growth of European lobster juveniles (Homarus gammarus) reared communally on a natural-bottom substrate. Mar Freshw Res 52:1431–1438
Knudsen H, Tveite S (1999) Survival and growth of juvenile lobster Homarus gammarus L. raised for stock enhancement within in situ cages. Aquac Res 30:421–425
Kristiansen TS, Drengstig A, Bergheim A, Drengstig T, Kollsgaard I, Svendsen R, Noestvold E, Farestveit E, Aardal L (2004) Development of methods for intensive farming of European lobster in recirculated seawater. Results from experiments conducted at Kvitsoey lobster hatchery from 2000 to 2004. Fisken og Havet. No. 6, 52 pp
Latrouite D (1998) The French experience with enhancement of European lobster Homarus americanus. In Proceedings of a workshop on lobster stock enhancement held in the Magdalen Islands, 29–31 Oct 1997. Canadian Independent Fisheries Report on Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, vol 244, pp 55–58
Mariño Balsa JC, Graña Pereira MI, Cid González E, Fernández Franco B, Pérez Benavente G (in press) Primer año de suelta esperimental de juveniles de bogavante, Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758), en Galicia. Foro Ac. Rec. Mar. Rías Gal.
Nicosia F, Lavalli K (1999) Homarid lobster hatcheries: their history and role in research, management, and aquaculture. Mar Fish Rev 61:1–57
Richards PR, Wickins JF (1979) Lobster culture research. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Laboratory Leaflet, vol 47, p 33
Svåsand T, Skilbrei OT, van der Meeren GI, Holm M (1998) Review of morphological and behavioural differences between reared and wild individuals: implications for sea-ranching of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., and European lobster, Homarus gammarus L. Fish Manag Ecol 5:473–490
Uglem I, Holm M, Svåsand T, Korsøen E (1995) Yngelproduksjon av hummer—Sluttrapport. Program for Utvikling og Stimulering av Havbeite, NFR, p 30. ISBN: 82-91625-02-6
Uglem I, Knutsen H, Hansen SH (1998) Culture of juvenile lobsters (Homarus gammarus) in Norway. In: Proceedings of a workshop on lobster stock enhancement held in the Magdalen Islands, 29–31 Oct 1997. Canadian Independent Fisheries Report on Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, vol 244, pp 59–62
Uglem I, Perez Benavente G, Browne RA (2006) A regional development strategy for stock enhancement of clawed lobsters (Homarus gammarus); Development of juvenile lobster production methodologies. NINA report, vol 211, p 39
Van der Meeren GI (2000) Predation on hatchery-reared lobsters released in the wild. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57:1794–1803
Van Olst JC, Carlberg JM, Ford RF (1976) Effect of substrate type and other factors on the growth, survival and cannibalism of juvenile Homarus americanus in mass rearing systems. Proc World Maricult Soc 6:261–274
Acknowledgments
The current study involved technology transfer and collaboration between Norway, Spain and Ireland. Much of the research detailed was undertaken as a part of the InterReg IIIc project Aquareg (www.aquareg.com). We will in particular thank the coordinators of the AquaReg project, Geir Tevassvold, Sigurd Bjørgo, Alan Drum and Gabriel de Labra Chas for practical and organizational help during the project. We would also like to thank the staff at IGAFA for their invaluable help during the course of the study. Furthermore, we are very grateful for the valuable inputs from Brian Beal, Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt, Gro I. van der Meeren, Oliver Tully and John Mercer during the initial phase of the project. For the trials in Ireland, we would like to express our appreciation to all of those that have contributed, in particular Saul Joyce and IGAFA for supplying the baskets used during these trials and the shellfish growers Thomas Connolly, Simon Kennedy and Michael Molloy who kindly and generously facilitated the trials and helped to make this study work. We would also thank the Padstow Lobster Hatchery and Dominic Boothroyd for providing the lobsters for the trials in Ireland.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Perez Benavente, G., Uglem, I., Browne, R. et al. Culture of juvenile European lobster (Homarus gammarus L.) in submerged cages. Aquacult Int 18, 1177–1189 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-010-9332-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-010-9332-9