Hatchery performance of early benthic juvenile American lobsters (Homarus americanus) fed enriched frozen adult Artemia diets

Abstract

One of the main factors hindering aquaculture production of American lobsters (Homarus americanus) is the need for a cost-effective and nutritionally sound diet. Live Artemia results in good growth, but is expensive and is a constant source of contamination. Frozen Artemia, although lower in cost, generally results in decreased survivorship and growth relative to live Artemia. The recent advent and mass production of enriched frozen Artemia products may provide for a cost-effective and nutritionally complete food source for culturing American lobsters. Here, commercially available frozen adult Artemia enriched with either n-3 fatty acids, or Spirulina was fed to juvenile American lobsters, and their growth and survivorship for three months was compared with that of animals fed unenriched frozen adult Artemia. Both enriched Artemia products produced survivorship superior to that for animals fed unenriched Artemia. Results for growth were equivocal although animals fed the Spirulina-enriched Artemia had the greatest condition factor. Although more costly by the end of the experiment, enriched diets were more economically efficient than unenriched Artemia. This research demonstrates that enriched feedstuffs are cost-effective over longer time intervals, and benefits may continue beyond the hatchery-rearing phase. Enriched diets may also yield animals with a better condition factor, which may further influence their survivorship when released to the wild in enhancement programmes.