Project description: In recent decades, particular emphasis has been placed on the diversification of aquaculture, especially considering the species that have aquaculture potential in each region of the world. In the case of Mexico and particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula, the Octopus maya is a species with a high commercial value whose biological characteristics favour the development of farming methods. Although females spawn only once in their lives, they produce between 800 and 1,500 eggs per spawning, with a hatching rate of between 75 and 80%. One of the advantages of this species is that the newly hatched juveniles are benthic, which feed on live prey, dead, fresh, frozen, and even balanced food.
The Faculty of Sciences (UNAM-Sisal Yucatán) has the capacity to the production of 20 thousand embryos/month, artificially incubated. The juveniles are placed in outside ponds at a density of 10 octopuses/m2, where they are fed at 100% of their biomass until they reach 2 to 3 g. Subsequently, the octopuses are separated by size to avoid cannibalism and fed at a rate of 50% of their weight. Survival of 50% can be obtained with growth rates ranging between 4 and 6% day-1.
At present, the Science Faculty of the UNAM has established a collaboration agreement with the SCPP Molluscos del Mayab to start a farm for the production of O. maya juveniles with a maximum weight of 150g. This farm will be the first of its kind, with the primary objective of conducting a bio-economic study to establish production costs in this pre-commercial stage. Soon, the Cooperative will need to be injected with capital to build the reproduction, incubation, and pre-growth modules. With that capital, it will be possible to reach a pre-commercial octopus farm. At the same time, the installation of a food production plant is planned that serves to feed the octopuses and takes advantage of the waste from the fishing industry in the region.