FA R M P R O F I L E
Management Metrics Key Management Decisions for BCMI include: • Certification: Gearing up for Environment certification. • Partnering with local commercial and recreational projects. • Use of marine ornamentals and shrimp as training tools, also can sell to the trade. • Two current PhD students from Curtin and UWA are onsite engaged in research into Pink Snapper and Cobia nutrition and health as well as coral larval dynamics. Key performance indicators for Clownfish: • System utilised: recirculation and temperature controlled hatchery systems. • Growth rate (from hatching to market): <4 months (egg to 25mm) • Survival rate: 90+% from juvenile to sale size • Av. stocking density: < 01.5 kg/m3 • Annual harvest: 5,000 (2012 first year of production) • Water use: 5000 L per 1,000 animals produced per year
Whiteline cleaner shrimp broodstock (Dr C. Johnson)
Artemia
Art
GSL
T E C H N O L O G Y
GSL ARTEMIA
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heated header tank (at 26.5°C) which also feeds the flow-through shrimp larval system. Again this system is housed within a temperature controlled room.” Larval production & weaning The larval systems for both shrimp and fish are run on flowthrough systems using temperature controlled header tanks of either clear water (shrimp) or greenwater (fish). Greenwater systems are maintained using a mixture of live algae and algal paste (Proaqua) added to header tanks. Ornamental fish larval production is performed in rectangular 120L tanks and shrimp larvae in upwelling hemispheri-
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cal tanks. Water for both these systems is sourced from the common hatchery treated water and both systems are contained in photoperiod and temperature controlled rooms. According to Colin the larval durations
10 Austasia Aquaculture | Autumn 2013
are species specific: “Approximately 8 days for Clownfish, 20 days for Dottybacks and 21 days for Bangai Cardinals with weaning by about 15 days, 25-30 days and 38days respectively. Peppermint shrimp complete larval settle in around 25 days.” During larval development the larvae are fed live feeds. “We use cultured L and S strain rotifers and formulated feeds from Inve Aquaculture; due to due to their ease of harvesting, we exclusively use GSL (Great Salt Lake) Artemia cysts treated with the innovative SEP-Art technology (refer insert box).” “Our rotifer production is either using an Emperor Aquatics rotifer recirc system or batch culture. For enrichment of these live feeds we generally use INVE S-presso.” Colin said that all of their post settlement ornamentals are grown primarily using in-house produced diets. “Our ‘special recipes’ incorporate fresh seafood ingredients, vitamin additives, including Stay-C (Rovimix). To enhance health and colour we add astaxanthin (naturose), canthaxanthin and lucantin yellow or mixed algal derived beta-carotenes from Cognis. (Cognis Australia is the world’s largest producer of algal beta-carotene and carotenoids, branded as Betatene Natural Mixed Carotenoids - refer to feature story in AA Vol 24.2 Autumn ‘10). “The use of these diets has drastically improved both the appearance of broodstock and juveniles particularly in colour intensity as well as their health and the quality of eggs. Further refinement of diets is ongoing. Differing diet formulations are produced for shrimp and fish, juveniles and broodstock. Supplementary feeding with a mixture of frozen commercial aquarium feeds and flakes for ornamental fish is also performed due to their ease of use.” Ongrowing to sale Juvenile peppermint shrimp are housed in the larger tanks in the same system as the broodstock. These are fed on a custom diet similar to that of the fish though