The Growth and Survival of The European lobster (Hommarus gammarus) Larvae in Pseudo-Green Water and Clear Water Under Low Density Conditions

Abstract

The European lobster, Hommarus gammarus, is a commercially important species in Europe. Despite successful stock enhancement programs during the last two decades, culture methods of H. gammarus are still in progress. In this study, the effects of pseudo-green water technique and clear water technique with lower stocking densities on the growth and survival of H. gammarus larvae during stages I-IV were investigated. All larvae were reared in 800 L cylindro-conical tanks with a stocking density of 1.25 larvae/L at a temperature of 17.1±1 oC and a salinity of 32±1 ppt. Lobster larvae were fed with enriched Artemia at a density of 3-5 naupli/ml for a period of 10 (09:30 am- 19:30 pm) hours. Daily additions of concentrated algae increased turbidity and reduced visibility in tanks compared to clear water conditions. Results showed that growth of lobster larvae were not significantly different among treatments during planktonic stages I-IV (p>0.05). Overall mean survival rate was only 3% with no significant differences between treatments. Increased turbidity and lower stocking density did not improve survival rates. Further studies are required to develop methods that will promote higher survival rates during the pelagic stages of lobster larvae.

Keywords

• homarid lobster
• decapoda
• cannibalism
• larval culture