GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF 0 + ABFT Thunnus thynnus FINGERLINGS KEPT IN TANKS

Abstract

This article shows the most relevant results obtained between August 2017 and October 2018 with two batches of 0+ tunas: cultured tunas (CT) born in the IEO facilities in June 2017 and wild tunas (WT) captured in Mazarron Bay in September 2017. Fertilized ABFT eggs were collected from cages owned by PisciAlba and obtained larvae were cultured in IEO facilities. At the end of July 2017, 500 fingerlings (CT, 2 g average weight) were move to ICRA facilities on 29th July and placed in a 1000 m3 tank. At the end of September 2017 mean weight were 350 gr. In that moment, a total of 68 0+ ABFT fingerlings (WT, 414 g mean weight), were captured from the Mazarron Bay and placed in a 3500 m3 tank in ICRA. From this moment temperature ranged between 18 and 27ºC, and feeding consisted in bait, mainly Sardinella aurita and Scomber scombrus, but also Scomber japonicus, Engraulis encrasicolus and Clupea harengus. During November 2017, mortality increased in CT without any symptoms of infectious disease. 80 healthier CT were then moved to a greater tank (2500 m3 ) and in March 2018, when completely recovered, they were placed together with WT and both batches were cultured in the same tank up to now. During the 13 months period mortality observed in CT was high (close to 85%) while mortality in WT was lower than 15%. Growth was also slightly faster in WT. Feeding intake ranged during the whole period between 3 and 26%, and feeding conversion rate estimated was close to 12. At the end of October 2018 mean weight of population was 11 kg