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Optimising methods for community-based sea cucumber ranching: experimental release of cultured juveniles Holothuria scabra into PNG seagrass meadows
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Optimising methods for community-based sea cucumber ranching: experimental release of cultured juveniles Holothuria scabra into PNG seagrass meadows

Cathy Hair, David Mills, Rowan McIntyre and Paul C Southgate
41st Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) Annual Conference & 5th International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (ISSESR) Program and Abstracts Book, p.85
41st Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) Annual Conference & 5th International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (ISSESR), 2015 (Sydney, Australia, 11-Oct-2015–14-Oct-2015)
2015
url
http://asfbconf.asnevents.com.au/assets/ASFB-Conference/ASFB2016-DraftProgram.pdfView
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Abstract

Fisheries Sciences sea cucumber
Hatchery-cultured juveniles of the commercial holothurian, sandfish (Holothuria scabra), were used for release experiments in a variety of marine habitats under traditional marine tenure near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. Juveniles of approximately 4 g mean weight were released inside 100 m2 sea pens installed within seagrass meadows nearby partner communities, under the care of local 'wardens'. Within each sea pen, varying levels of protection (free release, 1-day cage and 7-day cage) were provided in order to determine if short-term predator exclusion improved survival rate. Ossicles of juvenile sandfish were tagged with different fluoro-chromes for each treatment and sandfish survival and growth was recorded after release. A range of bio-physical parameters were recorded at the four sites. Contrary to expectations, short-term cage protection did not lead to higher survival at three sites, while a fourth site, despite meeting all criteria for suitable release habitat, experienced total loss of juveniles. There were significant site differences in mean weight of juveniles after 4-months. Multivariate analysis of bio-physical factors clearly separated the sea pen habitats, strongly differentiating the best-performing site from the others. However, further research is needed to elucidate which biophysical biophysical or human factors are most useful in predicting the quality of potential sea ranch sites. Methods developed or refined through these trials could be used to establish pilot test plots at potential ranching sites to assess site suitability and provide guidance on the level of animal husbandry required before commencing community sea ranching operations in New Ireland Province, PNG.

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