Event Title
Use of green sea urchins (Stroglocentrotus droebachiensis) as a biocontrol for fouling on aquaculture net pens in British Columbia
Description
Biofouling in the aquaculture industry is an expensive problem, requiring toxic chemical treatments and manual cleaning. It is a problem that negatively impacts fish by occluding net openings, thereby reducing water flow and stressing stocks, as well as physically damaging nets. However, many invertebrates feed on and remove sessile fouling organisms from substrata. Biocontrol aims to add these natural grazers to aquaculture systems to control fouling. Ideally the biocontrol is also exploited so that the method becomes a form of polyculture. This study aims to determine the feasibility of using green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) as a biocontrol in sablefish net pens. The experiment involved immersing sample nets at several depths with varying urchin densities. The efficacy of urchins as biocontrols was measured using dry-weight, and remote sensing techniques were used to determine percent net occlusion. The results will be used to determine optimal carrying capacity, as well as minimum and maximum densities for the use of green sea urchins as biocontrols on net pens at commercial scales.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Green sea urchin--British Columbia; Aquaculture industry--British Columbia; Fouling; Fish culture--British Columbia; Sablefish--British Columbia
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Session
Resource Management: Coastal British Columbia
Genre/Form
abstracts (summaries)
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
British Columbia
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
biofouling, biocontrol, integrated aquaculture, polyculture
Use of green sea urchins (Stroglocentrotus droebachiensis) as a biocontrol for fouling on aquaculture net pens in British Columbia
Biofouling in the aquaculture industry is an expensive problem, requiring toxic chemical treatments and manual cleaning. It is a problem that negatively impacts fish by occluding net openings, thereby reducing water flow and stressing stocks, as well as physically damaging nets. However, many invertebrates feed on and remove sessile fouling organisms from substrata. Biocontrol aims to add these natural grazers to aquaculture systems to control fouling. Ideally the biocontrol is also exploited so that the method becomes a form of polyculture. This study aims to determine the feasibility of using green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) as a biocontrol in sablefish net pens. The experiment involved immersing sample nets at several depths with varying urchin densities. The efficacy of urchins as biocontrols was measured using dry-weight, and remote sensing techniques were used to determine percent net occlusion. The results will be used to determine optimal carrying capacity, as well as minimum and maximum densities for the use of green sea urchins as biocontrols on net pens at commercial scales.