2009/744 Propagation and sea-based growout of Sea Cucumber stocks in the Northern Territory

By William Bowman et al.

The Sandfish is the most commonly cultured tropical species of Sea Cucumber; however, research on larval diet, nutrition and feeding has been critically lacking. Developing improved hatchery and nursery production protocols was needed to compliment a commercial stock enhancement operation through increasing survival rates, increasing production capacity, and ensuring continuity in production year round.

Results from research carried out in this project emphasise the efficacy of diatoms (Chaetoceros sp.) over the flagellates as the preferred dietary microalgae for culturing Sandfish larvae. The project recommended the use of C. muelleri as the preferred diet for larval production, due to the high nutritional value of C. muelleri as a microalgal diet for larval sandfish, and the ease of culturing in large volumes such as 1000Lt tanks.

Significant improvements were made in hatchery production and broodstock conditioning, providing continuity to hatchery operation. Evidence from this work suggest that release of hatchery produced Sea Cucumber will not affect existing populations and could be integrated with existing management frameworks to improve the Sea Cucumber resource of the Northern Territory.