Growth Performance of Sea cucumber Holothuria scabra Juvenile in Different Initial Size of Pond Culture in Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract

Sea cucumber Holothuria scabra has high market value and demand, consequently its stock has sharply declined due to overexploitation. Aquaculture of sea cucumbers is a key to conserve and to restore the decreasing population while producing them for commercial purpose. The obstacles in scale-up production are still need to be addressed in nursery stage, juvenile release techniques and grow out which can be implemented in pond culture. Growth performance of H. scabra juvenile cultured in floating hapas was investigated in pond in Sekotong, West Lombok. In 12 weeks of field trial, the effect of three different initial groups of juvenile: small (1.42 + 0.01 g ind-1), medium (3.42 + 0.02 g ind-1) and big (7.77 + 0.02 g ind-1) were tested on their growth and survival by Completely Randomized Design. The result showed both Specific Growth Rate and Weight Gain were higher in small group (2.57 + 0.11 ‰d-1 and 2.57 + 0.11 %, respectively). The highest survival rate was in the biggest initial size group. Pond in Sekotong, West Lombok is potential for nursery and grow out of H. scabra juvenile.