OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE OF MARINE FINFISH IN THE CARIBBEAN

Transcription

1 OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE OF MARINE FINFISH IN THE CARIBBEAN Daniel Benetti*, Refik Orhun, Brian O Hanlon, Larry Brand, James Collins, Christopher Maxey, Andy Danylchuk, Dallas Alston, Alexis Cabarcas

2 Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) Mutton Snapper, Lutjanus analis Cobia, Rachycentron canadum arangidae (jacks and pompanos) Yellowfin Tuna, Thunnus albacares

3 SPECIES CRITERIA 1) Native /endemic to the region (SE US, Gulf and the Caribbean) 2) High market demand and value 3) Technology developed/available from egg to market (hatchery produced) 4) High Aquaculture performance: Growth Survival Feed conversion rate Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

4 Comparative Growth During Early Developmental Stages 45 DPH (Days Post Hatch) 6 weeks Cobia 5.5 g; 11.5 cm (4.5 in) Snapper 0.2 g; 2.0 cm (1.0 in) Which species would you rather select for commercial aquaculture?

5 BROODSTOCK MANAGEMENT echnological Advances: Large (50-80 ton) independent, environmentally controlled recirculating systems TEMPERATURE control is KEY for natural spawning Improved nutrition [fish, squid, shrimp, pellets, blood worms (polychaetes)] Improved handling [no handling or using clove oil ppm] Removal/addition of individuals (aggressive males/females, stress, sex ratio) Use of artificial substrates mimic sea grass beds (Aquamats) Parasite control ( cleaning station, symbiosis, neon goby, Gobiosoma oceanops)

6 When exposed to correct temperature cycle, bia spawn naturally at 24 o C (optimum is 26 o C!?)

7 HATCHERY TECHNOLOGY OF COBIA Rachycentron canadum Yolk-sac larvae - 1 day old ys old 20 days old 45 days old (4.5 in)

8 HATCHERY TECHNOLOGY Intensive and Extensive Larval Rearing in Tanks and Ponds Fist trials carried out at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery in May/June 2005 produced tens of thousands of healthy cobia fingerlings

9 Shipping Challenges Logistics San Juan, Puerto Rico Rock Sound, South Eleuthera, Bahamas Fajardo, Puerto Rico

10 Stocking Snapperfarm s Submerged Cages off Culebra Island, Puerto Ric

11 SeaStation Ocean Spar, Net Systems (U.S.) Culebra, Puerto Rico Snapperfarm, Inc. Cage volume = 3000 m 3 Average current velocity = 0.5 knot Depth = m ( ft) H 2 O flow > 2 billion liters/day (>600 million gl/day) Eleuthera, Bahamas AquaSense Bahamas, Ltd.

12 Cobia juveniles are transferred from the nursery cage into 3,000 m 3 SeaStation main cages in 2-4 weeks in Puerto Rico and South Eleuthera, Bahamas Stocking densities: 3,000-20, % survival; 12-8 lb (6-4 kg) ea SeaStation 3000 = 2700m 3 volume = Tons/cage = 5-25 kg/m 3 or lb/m 3 Market Price of Fish (whole gutted) = $ $ 4.0/lb or $ $ 8.8/kg

13 GROWOUT Snapperfarm and AquaSense cobia are produced without the use of antibiotics, hormones, pigments, or pesticides. Grown offshore, far from pollution sources Organic Cobia!? [Ethoxyquin, a synthetically-derived antioxidant (stabilizer) used to prevent oxidation, rancidity.] Extraordinary Rates of Growth and Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCR) at Low Environmental Impact

14 y = 7988 * (1-(exp( (x-92)))^3) r 2 = 0.88 Onset of maturation > 95% mature Age (Days Post Hatch) Recorded and fitted Van Bertalanffy growth of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) in Snapperfarm s offshore cages off Culebra, Puerto Rico from hatching to 14 months

15 COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATES OF COBIA CULTURED IN OFFSHORE CAGES UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND STOCKING DENSITIES Cobia growth in weig Culebra - y = x x =0.69 r Eleuthera - y = x x =0.81 r Age (dph

16 GROWTH RATES OF COBIA CULTURED IN OPEN OCEAN CAGES IN PUERTO RICO AND THE BAHAMAS Lower stocking density Higher temperature Higher stocking density Lower temperature Age (days) Environmental and economic sustainability of operations?

17 COBIA PRODUCTION IN CAGES - SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS Low Med High Stocking Density Low Med High Stocking Density 4.5 Low Med High Stocking Density $300,000 Low Med High Stocking Density 4.0 $200, $100, $0 Low Med High Stocking Density Low Med High Stocking Densit

18 ge Volumes m 3 lip Cages

19 Environmental Assessment Physical factors Bathymetry (depth profile) Bottom type (preferred sandy) Coastal topography Wind velocity/direction/fetch Currents and tides Wave height (max/min/average) Air and water temperature Turbidity Biological factors Fouling Chlorophyll Productivity HABs Assemblage Benthic studies Chemical factors Total suspended solids Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Phosphate Dissolved oxygen Organic matter Nitrogen Socio-economic factors Acceptance of project Local communities Partnership Fishermen Association Educational factors Elementary / High School / Technical Level Curricula Teachers Materials / Talks, etc.

20 Environmental Assessment Summary of Results - Puerto Rico Dissolved nutrients in the water column Organic matter in the sediments at the cages and control site Snapper Cobia Control mg/l Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Phosphate % organic matter Snapper Cobia Control

21 Environmental Assessment Summary of Results - Bahamas Average Water Column Chlorophyll a November December 2004 Average Benthic Chlorophyll-a November December (Control) Distance (m) micrograms/m (cont Distance (m)

22 Summary of Environmental Studies (Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Hawaii, New Hampshire) Environmental data from Puerto Rico and the Bahamas indicate that there are no significant changes in the water column and benthic ecosystems near the area. There were no significant differences in any of the water quality parameters measured in the area surrounding and beneath the cages. No samples had values in excess of allowable values under the NPDES permits Data are from small scale, demonstration projects Need to continue environmental monitoring studies as operations expand to determine whether/when a threshold level may occur Benetti, Brand, Helsey, Langan, Alston, Cabarcas, Collins (in prep)

23 PROBLEMS: HURRICANES SHARK PREDATION ESCAPEMENTS In 2004, the cages were exposed to severe storms, including category 4 Hurricane Frances Cage Location WINDS ranging from miles/hr prevailed in the area where one of the cages is deployed in South Eleuthera for almost 24 hours No damage to the cage or fish mortality were observed

24 HARVESTING/PROCESSING/SHIPPING

25 HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCT

26 FOR A HIGH-END MARKET

27 SUMMARY bjective is to produce high-quality fish for high-end market seeking profits and lowering US seafood trade deficit ($ 8B) ew technology has been developed from egg to market New species, increase production to market esults suggest that growing this species in exposed sites can produce high yields of fish with low environmental impact esults suggest that, properly sited and managed, aquaculture of high-value fish can be conducted responsibly t will be difficult to compete with production from abroad (Asia, L.A.); environmental/technological prospects great; economic prospects no

28 SUMMARY - THE FUTURE nti-predator systems including predator nets, shark pods, electromagnetic fields and chemical/electrical repellants, improvements on existing cage design, new cage design et funding (government and private) and permits to expand operations to reach economic feasibility ontinue environmental monitoring studies to ensure environmental sustainability and determine threshold xpansion of offshore aquaculture will be driven by economic and environmental concerns combining the needs from the industry, government agencies, NGO s, press and the public at large ove/develop the industry abroad with great losses (e.g. quality control, employment, social/economic losses, dependence foreign production; seafood trade déficit)

29 OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE OPEN OCEAN AQUAFARM - NOT JUST A CONCEPT ANYMORE CONCEPTUAL OFFSHORE SUSTAINABLE AQUA FARM

30 HANKS! aculture Research Council - ARC