Aquaculture of two commercially important molluscs (abalone and limpet): existing knowledge and future prospects

Abstract

AbstractMolluscan aquaculture produces the most food fish by volume in the global mariculture market. The historical, cultural and ecological value of molluscs makes them a highly sought‐after delicacy in many regions of the world. Specifically, the aquaculture of abalone and that of limpets are two key industries with striking similarities and importance within the context of food production and food security. In this review, the current knowledge of these two commercially important seafood species is explored for a comprehensive understanding of its aquaculture status. The various culture methods and systems, animal nutrition and necessary improvements are discussed for abalone and limpets, respectively. For abalone, the knowledge base is extensive and some reviews have been written to compile essential information regarding different aspects of this healthy industry. For limpets, there is a small collection of aquaculture literature, and this is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first comprehensive review of the research. Our goal was to reveal, within the area of aquaculture research, the current status of both abalone and limpet industries while exposing their respective knowledge gaps for appropriate development of new technologies. With a firm understanding of these molluscs, the production of abalone and limpet will be sustainable for the long term.