Assessing potential for integrating sea grape (Caulerpa lentillifera) culture with sandfish (Holothuria scabra) and Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) co-culture

Abstract

This study assessed integration of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) into a sandfish (Holothuria scabra) and Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) co-culture system. Five culture combinations were assessed for yield (growth and survival) and water and sediment quality over 84 days at the National Centre for Marine Breeding, Van Ninh, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Final yield of sandfish per tank was similar with Babylonia (245.82 ± 34.86 g) and without (258.29 ± 40.03 g). Sandfish survival was not affected by culture with Caulerpa, however mean individual weight gain was much greater without the seaweed. Final sandfish yield when cultured with Caulerpa was 177.62 ± 13.21 g per tank, and 326.50 ± 32.73 g per tank without. Babylonia growth, survival and final yield was unaffected by co-culture. Caulerpa growth was also unaffected by co-culture combination. Babylonia raised total ammonia and total nitrogen concentrations and increased sediment organic matter, total sulphur and total nitrogen. Total ammonia was reduced in treatments containing Caulerpa. Our results showed positive production of each of the three commodities when they were grown together within the same system. However, further research is required at a larger scale to further evaluate the viability and potential yields of this combination at a commercial level, and to produce improved production information supporting detailed cost-benefit analysis.