Volume 71

Culture of the Sea Cucumbers Holothuria Mexicana, Holothuria floridana and Hybrids and Isostichopus Badionotus in Former Shrimp Ponds: A Belize Case Study  


Authors
Arlenie Rogers
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Date: November, 2018


Pages: 361-365


Event: Proceedings of the Seventy Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: San Andres Island


Country: Colombia

Abstract

The culture of Holothuria mexicana, Holothuria floridana and their hybrids and Isostichopus badiontus sea cucumbers was tested in former shrimp ponds at Bel-Euro Aquaculture Limited in southern Belize. Broodstock were collected from the wild, acclimated and introduced in two former shrimp ponds; for survival and spawning purposes. Juveniles were also collected from the wild, acclimated and introduced in two former ponds for growth observations. I. badionotus broodstock, and juveniles did not survive pond conditions. H. mexicana, H. floridana and their hybrids broodstock were observed spawning naturally in the ponds in the months of July-September, 2017 resulting in naturally pond raised juveniles. Juveniles collected from the wild obtained total growth of 96% in three months. Pond conditions fluctuated with temperature ranges of 26? - 34?, salinity ranges of 14-32 psu and 2 - 7mg/L dissolved oxygen; both broodstock and juveniles survived at all temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions but not at < 20 psu in salinity. The June - November rainy season and October - February rainy cold fronts in 2017 - 2018 decreased pond salinity; a shortcoming can be minimized by doing more water exchange and by directly abstracting water from the sea than from a nearby natural canal. H. mexicana, H. floridana and their hybrids culture is viable; the culture of I. badionotus in former shrimp ponds requires more studies.

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