Massive production of Lithodes santolla shouthern king crab juveniles: an alternative for the stock enhancement

FEDERICO TAPELLA; M. PAULA SOTELANO; M. CAROLINA ROMERO; GUSTAVO A. LOVRICH

Gramado, Brasil

Congreso; V Congresso Brasileiro sobre Crustaceos; 2008

Since the Southern King Crab (SKC) fishery in the Beagle Channel has reached its maximum yield, landings began to decline until the fishery collapsed. Afterward, restrictions were imposed and areas with different fishing efforts were determined. However, nowadays after 14 y of restrictions there are no evidences of stock improvement. Thus, an alternative to enhance the SKC population may be the massive production of juveniles to subsidize the natural population. The aim of this work was to determine larval survival at three densities (300, 600 and 1200 larvae•container-1) in two systems: 1) a recirculation system with constant flowing water and 2) a cold room with frequent water change (thrice a week). Water was filtered to 20µm, UV-sterilized and kept at 8ºC. Each density was quadruplicated and dead larvae were removed thrice a week. Survival was calculated until the 100% of larvae reached Crab I stage. SKC larval culture was more efficient in the recirculation system than in the cold room. In the recirculation system, survivals were similar among densities (p=0.26) and varied between 47±2 and 41±7% at low and high densities, respectively. In contrast, survival at the cold room was similar (p=0.38) between low (41±8%) and medium (34±6%) densities, but lower (p<<0.05) at high density (3±4%). Techniques here provided are useful either for planning a hatchery in a stock enhancement program or to produce large numbers of C1, which could be used for laboratory experiments. Supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica PICT 01-10042, PICT 34146, Global Environmental Fund GEF-PNUD-AR-02/018 Subproyecto AB-45, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas PIP 6187.