Routine oxygen consumption rates of california halibut ( Paralichthys californicus) juveniles under farm-like conditions

Abstract

Fish oxygen requirement is a fundamental variable of aquaculture system design and management, as it is the basis for determining water flow rates for sustaining stock. A study on oxygen consumption of California halibut ( Paralichthys californicus) between 3.2 and 165.6 g was conducted in small raceways (2.41 m long, 0.28 m wide, and 0.22 m high; operational water depth between 0.05 and 0.10 m with a quiescent zone 19 cm long in the effluent section) working as open respirometers in a recirculating system under farm-like conditions. The fish were fed commercial dry pelleted feeds at a ratio of ∼0.70–3.00% of body weight (BW) and stocked at densities between 94% and 316% percent coverage area (PCA). Oxygen consumption rates were determined by mass balance calculations. The mean and maximum oxygen consumption rates (g O 2/kg fish/day) for juvenile California halibut under the conditions tested can be expressed by M day = 15.077 W −0.2452 and M day = 17.266 W −0.2033, respectively, where W is fish weight in grams. The determination of oxygen consumption by California halibut in farm-like conditions provides valuable information on the oxygen requirement of these fish in an aquacultural setting. This information can be used for designing and sizing a rearing facility for the intensive culture of California halibut.