The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners.
As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
Gonad Enhancement Of The Purple Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus, Collected From Barren Grounds And Fed Prepared Diets And Kelp
-
2022
-
Source: Aquacult Int 30, 1353–1367
[PDF-1.02 MB]
Details:
-
Journal Title:Aquaculture International
-
Personal Author:
-
NOAA Program & Office:
-
Sea Grant Program:
-
Description:Over the last decade, an overabundance of purple urchins ( Strongylocentrotus purpuratus ) that exert destructive grazing pressure on essential kelp forest habitat has caused a rapid expansion of barren grounds along the southwest coast of North America. Although the harvesting of several urchin species has led to high-value fisheries worldwide, purple urchins presently have little to no commercial value, especially in a malnourished, barren condition. Harvesting purple urchins from barrens and enhancing their roe through aquaculture has the potential to transform these destructive grazers into high-quality seafood that also benefits the ecological restoration of kelp forests. We collected purple urchins from barrens and fed them whole kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera ) or two different formulations of prepared feed in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). The gonad index (GI) of urchins fed the two prepared diets doubled in six weeks, increased from an initial barren condition (mean GI ± SE = 6.8 ± 0.7%) to a marketable yield (GI > 15%) in nine weeks, and was significantly greater than the GI of urchins fed kelp (11.7 ± 1.2%). Analyses of proximate constituents and amino acid composition of gonad tissue also revealed differences among the roe of urchins fed the three diets for nine weeks. In particular, one of the two prepared feeds resulted in a significantly greater amount of bitter-tasting amino acids in enhanced gonads compared to urchins fed whole kelp, suggesting that the other prepared formulation we tested produces a more natural flavor profile. Our results highlight an untapped potential to quickly produce a highly valued seafood product from seemingly low-value purple urchins. Echinoculture could thereby serve as a tool to stimulate urchin industries that could also facilitate the restoration of kelp forests from urchin barrens.
-
Keywords:
-
Source:Aquacult Int 30, 1353–1367
-
DOI:
-
Document Type:
-
Rights Information:Accepted Manuscript
-
Compliance:Submitted
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
