Fish Conservation and Propagation Abstracts
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Rising Tide Conservation:
The Role of Aquaculture in the Reef Conservation Equation Judy St. Leger, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Rising Tide Conservation is an effort in reef conservation based in marine ornamental aquaculture. The fishes are not raised for release but rather as an alternative to collecting from reefs. The program focuses on financially supporting universities and research institutes to refine aquaculture techniques and subsequent transfer of those techniques into a sustainable commercial production system. The stakeholders in the program are diverse and include influencers, producers, wholesalers, and retailers from the hobby industry, universities and research institutes, zoos and display aquaria. The roles for public aquariums are varied and include communicating to the public via tank signage, tours, and lectures, financial support and fundraising, broodstock grow-out, and egg collecting. Benefits for display facilities include simple messaging for a complex subject and a real way to address one element of reef conservation. Communication of the program includes social media, magazines, books, in-park signage and meetings and workshops. To date, the program has raised over 30 species of fish and contributed to creating or promoting aquaculture in over ten species. The goal is to focus on fish species that are collected in a manner that is detrimental to the reef habitat or the fishes themselves, collected in high numbers and where developing aquaculture may advance technique development in similar species. Many species have been studied opportunistically from egg collecting in mixed species exhibits. The current program focus includes expanding research facilities, species of interest and communication. When appropriate, species from aquaculture promoted through this program can help facilities to meet the AZA action plan for marine life purchasing. |
First Rearing Attempt of the
Diadromus Allis Shad, Alosa Alosa: From Larvae to Adult Pierre Moriniere, Aquarium La Rochelle Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The aims of this study are to continue the stocking of Allis shad, Alosa alosa, in the Rhine initiated in 2007 and to improve knowledge on the population of Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne to save and restore it. In the beginning of the 20th century, the Allis shad population of the Rhine suffered from overexploitation, pollution and habitat partitioning. However, in recent decades, the environmental situation has improved and populations have increased. In 2007, LIFE Shad project was launched to reintroduce the Allis shad on the Rhine from the population of Gironde-GaronneDordogne, which at the time was the largest population. Adult shads in upstream migration were caught on the Garonne and the Dordogne, and bred ex-situ. Produced larvae were released on the Rhine. In 2011, this supplemental program was continued to increase stocks as well as further studies to help manage the population. The Irstea, Aquarium, La Rochelle and Borea Team developed ex-situ rearing methods for Allis shad, and the monitoring of sexual maturation. Rearing facilities and husbandry techniques developed are presented. The results in terms of survival, growth, sexual maturation monitoring and observed pathologies are included. |
Seahorse Research and Conservation in China
Xiong Zhang, Project Seahorse, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The family Syngnathidae (seahorses, pipefish and seadragons) are well-known charismatic animals, which are mainly used as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and ornamental fish, but they are rarely studied. Species of this family are usually caught as bycatch and generally vulnerable to overfishing and other human activities. This paper provides a concise introduction of both wild and cultured species of family Syngnathidae in China through literature review and aquarium market surveys. Five seahorse species and 13 pipefish species were recorded in China’s literatures with the majority found in the South China Sea. They were mainly threatened by bottom trawling and pollution and only a few are relatively common in fisheries. The advance in techniques, especially over the past decade, has induced the development of China’s seahorse aquaculture. Nearly 12 million seahorses, mainly from two species, are cultured every year in China. Seahorses and their relatives have been bred in Chinese aquariums for display and public education since 1998. Our surveys indicated that ~ 50% of China’s large public aquariums have cultured and displayed a total of 19 species of the Syngnathidae, including 11 introduced ones. Artificial reproduction has been successful in fourteen of these species. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (SOA) has gradually and successfully bred eight species since 2005. Two major obstacles in breeding the Syngnathidae are food supply and disease control. Only a few surveyed aquariums have conducted education outreach with the Syngnathidae. Especially, SOA has used cultured seahorse and pipefish in various outreach activities including special exhibitions and sustainable seafood campaigns. In summary, we think more biological and ecological studies are required to inform conservation of wild species of the Syngnathidae in China. Aquariums can and should play an important role in conserving these fishes and public education to engage Chinese citizens to protect rare and vulnerable marine animals. |
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Oceanário de Lisboa Support of In-Situ Conservation Projects Nuria Baylina, Oceanário de Lisboa Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Opened in 1998 for the world expo, Oceanário de Lisboa decided to start supporting in-situ conservation projects in 2007. Faced with the challenge of how to apply efficiently limited financial resources, a strategy was developed, where conservation projects implemented by partner institutions (universities, NGOs) were financed instead of developing its own conservation projects. This strategy had the following advantages: 1. A bigger number of projects were promoted. 2. Strong partnership relations were developed with active entities in the field. Projects were financed with seed money (10.000€/year) that increased matching funding from other entities. In 2010, Oceanário gave a step forward by creating “InAqua Conservation Fund” together with the National Geographic Channell – a fund that applies money donated by companies to conservation projects. In September 2015, Oceanário de Lisboa was privatized and will now dedicate all its results to conservation and education. |
Using Insects to Save Our Ocean - Developing Feed for Aquaculture from Black Soldier Fly
Hai Chaing, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
With the increasing demand in alternative protein sources worldwide, insects represent an innovative aquafeed source; rich in high quality protein. Using black soldier flies (BSF), Hermetia illucens in compost solves a number of environmental problems at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) in Taiwan. BSF prepupae contains around 40% protein and 30% fat and it has been demonstrated to be a good alternative feed in fish production. The use of insects as a sustainable, protein-rich feed ingredient in fish diets is technically feasible and has the potential to replace fish meal, relieving pressure off wild-caught stocks. This opens up new perspectives in aquaculture and has the ability to reduce the impact of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. We applied BSF larvae as feed for farmed fish, then developed and compared a set of aquaponics system trials. In a further step, we transformed fish waste into nutrients for algae, demonstrating the power of multi-trophic aquaculture to help solve the over-fishing and food safety problem. |