Larviculture of marine finfish in Europe

Abstract

European larviculture techniques for commercially farmed marine finfish species are reviewed with reference to recent developments in the fields of health management, larval nutrition and system operation. Specific rearing methods and critical aspects of production are described for sea bream Sparus aurata, sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, turbot Scophthalmus maximus, and Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus. The European industry is dominated by rapidly expanding production of juvenile sea bream and sea bass (approximately 450 million fry in 1999). These species are mainly reared intensively in green water, using Brachionus and Artemia as prey, although hyper-intensive clear water techniques and extensive/semi-intensive rearing methods are also used. Large “industrial” hatcheries, incorporating system automation and standardized operating procedures, now account for a high proportion of total European sea bass and sea bream production. Intensive larviculture techniques are also now prevalent for the production of turbot and Atlantic halibut in Europe, although several key operators retain the use of extensively reared zooplankton, owing to pigmentation abnormalities associated with Brachionus and Artemia prey. Output of these flatfish species is relatively low and rising slowly (circa 5 million and 750,000 fry, respectively, in 1999). Future development of the European marine fish hatchery sector is considered in terms of increasing output levels and production efficiency for existing farmed species and adapting hatchery facilities and techniques to enable species diversification.