Marine Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement in Florida
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MARINE AQUACULTURE AND STOCK ENHANCEMENT IN FLORIDA: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FLORIDA PROJECT, FWC CONTRACT No. 01258, AMENDMENT No.1 MML Project No. 170.355, 170.385, 170.552, 170.553 FINAL REpORT J UNE 1, 2003 THROUGH MAy 9, 2004 PREPARED FOR: MR. B ILL HALSTEAD FLORIDA F ISH AND W ILDLIFE C ONSERVATION COMMISSION STOCK E NHANCEMENT RESEARCH F ACILITY 14495 HARLLEE R OAD ~ PORT MANATEE, FLORIDA 34221 EDITED By: MEAGHAN C. D ARCY, M .S. CONTRIBUTORS: NATHAN BRENNAN, M.S. ~ CAROLE N EIDIG, M .S. KEv AN MAIN, PH.D . ~ KEN LEBER, PH.D. MIKE NYSTROM, M.S. ~ D AVE JENKINS, B .S. STOCK ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, CENTER FOR FISHERIES ENHANCEME T M OTE MARINE LABORATORY 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY ~ SARASOTA, FLORIDA 34236 April 19, 2004 Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 964 This document is printed on recycled paper with non destructive ink 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Myra Monfort Runyan Chairman of the Board Sa rasota, Flo rida 34236 -1096 USA M&TE PHONE: (941 ) 388-4441 FAX: (941) 388 -4312 Kumar Mahadevan. Ph.D. ViARINE LABORATORY INTERNET: [email protected] • www.mote.org President FIELDST ATIONS: Florida Keys. 24244 Ove rseas Highway · Summerland Key. FL 33042 • PHONE: (305j 745-2729 . FAX: (305) 745-2730 Charlotte Harbor· P.O. Box 2197 · Pineland, FL 33945 · PHONE: (239) 283-i622 • FAX: (239) 283-2466 Mot, AqUJzculture Park • 12300 Fruitville Roa.d • Sarasota, FL 34240 May 7, 2004 Mr. Bill Halstead FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Stock Enhancement Research Facility 14495 Harllee Road Port Manatee, Florida 34221 Re: June I, 2003 - May 9, 2004, Final Report Draft: "Marine Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement in Florida: Research and Development." FWC Contract No. 01258, Amendment No. 1, MML Project No. 170.355, 170.385, 170.552, and 170.553 . MML Technical Report No. 964 Dear Mr. Halstead, This letter is in reference to our progress for the fiscal period June 1,2003 - May 9, 2004 of the above referenced project. Three sections are included in this draft report and include: (A) Collaborate in Research to Develop Stock Enhancement Capabilities with High-Priority Finfish Species, (B) Evaluate Snook and Red Drum Stock Enhancement Impact in Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay, and (C) Assist the Commission with Strategic Planning. We have been very pleased with the results and accomplishments in all ofthese areas. On behalf of the Center for Fisheries Enhancement at Mote Marine Laboratory, we look forward to continuing our successful cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sincerely, <' lr : /' ~/<' ,. --..- ,;v~ _.- ! /""j Meaghan C. Darcy Senior Biologist Stock Enhancement Program Center for Fisheries Enhancement A nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in marine sciences and a member of: • AYiEKCAN A-CSWATION OF MUC..£l!>.AS • A Sso:;lf.mN OF M "?JNE iJ..eCRNORJES OF THE CAl<;BBEAN • FLORIDA OcEAN ALUN.'CE • NATY'...NAL ASSO':lAiVN OF lvlARJNE LABOl<A, ORlES • SoENCE AND EJ..Y.RONMENTfJ. CoJN::!l OF S ARA-corA CooNIY • SourH::RN AS5XL~mN OF MA"IN E L.;e.JRf.TORIES , T< MARINE AQUACULTURE AND STOCK ENHANCEMENT IN FLORIDA: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FINAL REpORT June 1, 2003 - May 9, 2004 A. COLLABORATE IN RESEARCH TO DEVELOP STOCK ENHANCEMENT CAPABILITIES WITH HIGH-PRIORITY FINFISH SPECIES - THE COMMON SNOOK (CENTROPOMUS UNDECIMALIS) A.ICULTURE OF HIGH PRIORITY FINFISH SPECIES: COMMON SNOOK (CENTROPOMUS UNDECIMALIS) A.1.1 PRODUCTION EFFORTS The 2003 snook culture season began with a collaborative planning meeting that included the CARD (Center for Aquaculture Research and Design) and CFE (Center for Fisheries Enhancement) staff. This meeting included a review and discussion of the upcoming 200312004 snook aquaculture research experiments and production efforts. A summary of the research and production results is presented below. Strip-Spawning Results In 2003, we initiated the snook spawning season earlier than any previous year. The first spawning attempt took place in mid-April 2003 and fish were collected and spawned throughout the summer. The April sampling for potential broodstock was initiated to determine the earliest date snook could be collected for viable eggs. The first viable spawn in 2003 occurred on May 18. The percentage of successful spawns increased from 18% in May to 50% or greater in June, July and August. Spawning attempts continued in 5-day sampling periods, every other week from mid-April through the end of August. A total of 43 spawning attempts were conducted, compared to 26 attempts in 2002. Our average number of collection trips from 1996 to 2001 was 7 times per year. In 2003, more than 1079 snook were collected. A total of 191 male and 64 females were spawned. Data was collected on spawning location, tidal period, moon cycle, red tide, as well as size and sex ratios of spawning fish throughout the natural spawning season.. All of the successful spawns stocked in the production systems occurred 2 to 3 days after a full or new moon (Figure 1). Eggs were collected outside of this window, but survival was very low. Although fewer spawning trips were conducted in 2002 and 2001, the success rates observed in 2001 , 2002, and 2003 were the same. M OTE M ARIN E L ABORATORY - M ARiNE AQUACULTURE AND STOCK E NHANCEMEN T IN FLORiDA: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FINAL REpORT, J UNE 1, 2003 - M AY 9,2004 Page 1 A total of 6 locations were sampled for spawning snook in 2003. All spawning sites were located near tidal passes between the open ocean and bay habitats (Figure 2). The best spawning sites were the Terra Ciea, Longboat and Venice sites. Tidal flow did not seen to have a direct impact on egg quality. High quality eggs were collected on strong, medium and low tidal flows. Red tide conditions are common on the west coast of Florida and can result in large-scale fish kills in nearshore waters. Red tide levels in 2003 were lower than in 2002 and they appeared to have less of an effect on egg quality. Most of the female snook spawned in 2002 and 2003 were between 3 and 5 years old. The oldest spawning female collected was 9 years old and the youngest was 2 years old. The plans for spawning snook in 2004 have been scheduled based on the findings in 2003. Captive Broodstock Results Twenty-six adult snook were collected and are currently being maintained in our broodstock maturation facilities at Mote Aquaculture Park (MAP). Three snook broodstock tanks (54,315 liters/tank) are available at MAP. The broodstock population includes 9 fish that were collected and held for several years in the Mote aquarium and 17 snook that were collected in the spring of2003. The snook were weaned off of live prey organisms and are now being fed a fresh cut broodstock diet of shrimp, kapelin, squid, herring, and mackerel. Broodstock are monitored for egg development and growth on a quarterly basis. In February 2004, three fish were quarantined and acclimated to freshwater prior to being transported from Mote's main campus to the new broodstock facility. These fish allowed CARD to test the operational characteristics of the marine broodstock tank systems in freshwater conditions. After testing the broodstock system operation, the remaining 23 snook broodstock were transported to the new broodstock facility in late April. Beginning in the summer of 2004, we will maintain the broodstock under light and temperature controlled conditions to attempt captive maturation. Larval Rearing Production Results The 2003-2004 production season was one of the best years in terms·of snook production. Over the 2003 spawning season, 15 spawns produced viable eggs, 13 tanks were stocked with snook, and low levels of deformity were observed among the fish cultured. A v€rage stocking density for the production systems was 116 eggs per liter for the summer. Average fertilization rate for the production systems was 69.8%. Average hatching rate was 45.5% and the average 3 day survival density was lOA fish per liter. At 3 days after hatch, the estimated total number of larvae produced was 554,400. Mean growth of larVae during the first 14 days after hatch was 0.203 per day (Figure 3). At first size grading, juveniles were counted and 23,665 snook were transferred to nursery culture MOTE M ARINE L ABORATORY - M ARINE AQUA CULTURE AND SroCK E NHA NCEMENT IN FLORIDA : RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FINAL REPORT, JUNE 1,2003 -MAY9, 2004 Page 2 tanks. By December 2003, CARD had successfully reared a total of 13,800 juvenile snook. CFE staff culled and tagged the fish in early April and selected approximately 7500 fish, which are being held for release in May. CARD staffis continuing to maintain the fish in CFE and CARD culture systems until their scheduled release in May 2004. Experimental Larval Rearing Studies In 2003, three recirculating experimental systems were constructed and consisted of four cone-bottom cylinder tanks (114 L). Each system had an independent sump (a settling chamber for solid waste), a UV filter, fluidized bed, and heaters (if needed). A series of experiments were planned to examine various feeding techniques and culture methods for snook larvae. These studies included comparisons of: larval survival with night feeding (at 10 p.m.) in addition to a normal daily live feeding schedule versus the addition of live feeds during the day only. The daily feeding schedule involved feeding rotifers volumetrically at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.); larval survival in a green water culture system using live algae versus larval survival in a system using algae paste; larval survival in tanks with an increased live feed density (30 rotifer/ml), opposed to the standard rotifer density (15 rotifers/ml); and larval survival among tanks having different egg stocking densities.