Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2024

July 2 - 5, 2024

Surabaya, Indonesia

Add To Calendar 03/07/2024 15:10:0003/07/2024 15:30:00Asia/JakartaAsian-Pacific Aquaculture 2024INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE OF THE SEA CUCUMBER SANDFISH Holothuria scabra WITH SNUBNOSE POMPANO Trachinotus blochii FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT RECYCLINGDiamond 5The World Aquaculture Societyjohnc@was.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYanrl65yqlzh3g1q0dme13067

INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE OF THE SEA CUCUMBER SANDFISH Holothuria scabra WITH SNUBNOSE POMPANO Trachinotus blochii FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT RECYCLING

Mai Nhu Thuy *, Quang Dai Thanh Phuong ,  Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy , Monal M. Lal, Paul C. Southgate

 

Department of Fisheries Biology, Institute of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University, Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa, Vietnam.

thuymn@ntu.edu.vn



Snubnose pompano Trachinotus blochii, and the sandfish Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra, are  a  high-value marine finfish and sea cucumber , respectively, both with Indo-Pacific distributions. The potential for integration of sandfish and snubnose pompano culture was assessed in two experiments in Vietnam, due to the bioremediation and nutrient cycling capabilities of the former. Experiment 1 examined the effect of varying pompano:sandfish stocking density ratios (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:1.5 and pompano monoculture control) on growth, survival and sediment quality (measured by Total Organic Matter: TOM and Sediment Total Nitrogen: STN content) over 75 days in concrete tanks. Experiment 2 applied the best density (1:1) determined from Experiment 1 to commercial-scale co-culture in 2×500 m2 earthen ponds over 8 months. Mean pompano weight gain during Experiment 1 was 11.9% higher on average in co-culture across all treatments (70.49± 5.15 g cf. control: 59.67±4.81 g ), while sandfish performed better (11.6 % increase) at density ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:1. Survival remained high (>91%) in all treatments. Absolute growth rates were 14.9% higher in co-culture for pompano, whereas fastest sandfish growth occurred at density ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:1 (10.3% and 11.2% higher cf. control, respectively).  Sediment TOM and STN content reduced with increasing sandfish density (TOM: 55.6-46.1% and STN:62.3-34.5% lower cf. control). During Experiment 2 pompano and sandfish reached 494.5± 1.83 g and 393.0±20.9 g, respectively. Specific growth rates averaged 2.16±0.02 and 1.75±0.03%/day. Sediment TOM and STN both increased over the culture period. Results demonstrate high feasibility for co-culture of these species with improved pond sediment quality , with benefits including improved productivity of mariculture systems, higher economic resilience of pompano-sandfish farmers and reduced environmental impacts arising from cleaner pond sediments and effluent water discharge.