Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2024

July 2 - 5, 2024

Surabaya, Indonesia

PILOT OF INTEGRATIVE SANDFISH Holothuria scabra CULTURE SYSTEMS IN BOLINAO, PANGASINAN, PHILIPPINES

Tomilyn Jan S. Garpa*, Julie Clarice R. Salva, Garry R. Bucol, and

Marie Antonette Juinio-Meñez

 

The Marine Science Institute

University of the Philippines Diliman

Diliman, Quezon City, 1101

tsgarpa@up.edu.ph

 



Development of innovations in the production of Holothuria scabra or sandfish could further address the concern in supply of juveniles for grow-out and enhance the value chain in the development of the sustainable sea cucumber industry in the country.  The viability of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) with sandfish can potentially contribute to the scaling up of the production scheme. Four sandfish integrative culture systems were piloted in three Barangays within Bolinao, Pangasinan for six to seven months. Commercially important species that are locally available such as Tripneustes gratilla- sea urchin, Siganus spp.- rabbitfish, and Perna viridis- green mussels were co-cultured with sandfish. Existing monoculture system of sandfish (CS1) as well as the co-culture of sandfish and caged sea urchin (CS2) were piloted in Brgy. Victory. The co-culture of sandfish with free ranging sea urchins (CS3), and with the addition of siganids (CS4) were piloted in Silaki Island, Brgy. Binabalian. Lastly, the multi-culture of sandfish with mussels and siganids (CS5) was piloted in Rongos, Brgy. Pinairingan. Both sites in Victory and Silaki are seagrass-dominated, whereas Rongos is characterized by a muddy substrate rich in organic matter. Growth performance and survival of the animals in the five culture systems were evaluated. Sediment quality in these sites were also assessed to correlate with growth and positive ecological effect to the surrounding environment. Results revealed that the sandfish juvenile can be co-cultured with sea urchins, siganids, and mussels. Mean body weight and absolute growth rate of sandfish were higher with CS2 (with caged sea urchins) than in CS3 (with free-ranging urchins). It was also observed that the growth of sandfish multi-cultured with siganids (CS4) was higher compared to the co-culture (CS2 and CS3) and monoculture (CS1) systems. In all the piloted culture systems in Victory and Silaki, growth peaked by D120 and started to gradually decline thereafter. In contrast, sandfish in CS5 continued to increase in body weight until D180. Generally, the piloted co-culture and multi-culture systems had better growth of sandfish when compared to the monoculture of sandfish (CS1). Further, this study indicates that seagrass-dominated sites are suitable in the rearing of sandfish during the nursery phase. Once sandfish attain a body weight of ~50 to 60 g, sandfish can be transferred to an organically-rich site for the grow-out phase until a premium-grade size is achieved.