Abstract
The maraena whitefish, Coregonus maraena (Bloch, 1779), is often considered a suitable candidate for intensive aquaculture diversification in the EU. However, only a few such farms in Europe are in operation. Rearing this species in recirculating aquaculture systems is a recent innovation, and optimisation is necessary to standardise aspects of larviculture. This 30-day study investigated the effect of stocking densities of 25/L, 50/L, 100/L, and 200/L on the survival and growth of maraena whitefish larvae in a recirculating aquaculture system. The four groups of larvae (initial weight = 7.4 ± 0.1 mg; initial total length = 13.0 ± 0.1 mm) in three repetitions were reared in a recirculating system. Larvae were fed fresh live brine shrimp metanauplii every 3 h at a rate converted to larval stocking density. After the experiment, 10 larvae from each tank (30 of each density group) were weighed on a digital microbalance (ABJ 220-4M KERN, Germany, readout = 0.1 mg) and measured manually on images taken with Leica MZ16 A stereomicroscope and a digital colour camera with 5-megapixel resolution for Leica DFC420 Image Analysis. No significant differences in final body weight, total length, size heterogeneity, condition factor, or survival were found among treatments (P > 0.05). The highest non-significant survival rate and growth parameters were observed in larvae reared at 25/L. On the contrary, it is possible to rear maraena whitefish larvae at high stocking density without any subsequent negative consequences for growth and survival. As no significant differences in any evaluated parameter were observed between groups of larvae at the highest and lowest stocking density, we conclude that it is possible to rear maraena whitefish larvae at high stocking density (and 200/L) without any subsequent negative consequences for growth and survival.
Highlights
The maraena whitefish, Coregonus maraena (Bloch, 1779), is a promising species for inland freshwater aquaculture throughout east-central Europe (Mukhachev and Gunin1999), and northern Europe, especially Finland (Jobling et al 2010) and Norway (Siikavuopio et al 2011)
At the conclusion of the trial, no significant (P>0.05) differences among treatments were observed in survival rate (SR), W, total length (TL), size heterogeneity (SH), K, or specific growth rate (SGR) (Table 2)
The relation of stocking density to size heterogeneity has been reported to be positive in red tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) × Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852), when stocking density was 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 fry per litre (Huang and Chiu 1997), but negative in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758), with stocking density 10, 20, 28, 40, 60, 80, and 100 fry per litre (Wallace et al 1988)
Summary
The maraena whitefish, Coregonus maraena (Bloch, 1779), is a promising species for inland freshwater aquaculture throughout east-central Europe 1999), and northern Europe, especially Finland (Jobling et al 2010) and Norway (Siikavuopio et al 2011). Stejskal et al.: Effect of stocking density on Coregonus maraena (Thomas and Eckmann 2007). It is important that re-establishment of whitefish natural production be accompanied by the culture in intensive aqua systems. The recirculating aquaculture system is an important model in worldwide aquaculture, given its cost-effectiveness, low environmental impact, ease of regulating water quality, and final product quality control features (d’Orbcastel et al 2009). The establishment of coregonid production in recirculating systems requires that optimal larviculture conditions, including stocking density as a crucial factor in the productivity of fish culture systems, be identified
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