Low-density culture of red abalone juveniles, Haliotis rufescens Swainson 1822, recirculating aquaculture system and flow-through system

Abstract

Commercial abalone culture is carried out using flow-through systems with a high water volume exchange in Baja California, Mexico. The objective of this work was to compare the growth rate and survival of red abalone cultured in two systems. Flow through (daily water exchange rate of 800%) and recirculating systems consisted of a 250 L fibreglass tank and constant aeration, but biofiltration in the recirculating system was provided with a 28 L (1 ft3) bubble-washed bead filter. Water variables were measured either daily (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and salinity) or three times a week (total ammonia nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen and alkalinity). Shell length was measured every 2 weeks for 18 weeks. Only the alkalinity and pH were significantly different due to the addition of sodium bicarbonate to the recirculating system. Abalone growth rate was 26.1 ± 15.96 μm day−1 in the recirculating systems and 22.21 ± 18.69 μm day–1 in the flow-through systems. The final survival was 78.74% in the recirculating systems and 71.82% in the flow-through systems. Significant differences in the final size and survival of the abalones were found between systems (P<0.05). Therefore, recirculating aquaculture systems is a feasible alternative for juvenile red abalone culture.