Zoe Nichols Marine Aquaculture Dauphin Island Sea Lab

1. Zoe Nichols Marine Aquaculture Dauphin Island Sea Lab Abalone

2. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Family: Haliotidae Genus: Haliotis Species:…

3. Species Haliotisasinina“Ass's Ear Abalone” South East Asia Haliotisrufescens“Red Abalone” California Haliotisdiscus “Disk Abalone” Japan Haliotis discus hannai“Japanese Abalone” Japan, Korea Haliotisdiversicolorsupertexta“VariousllyColoured Abalone” Japan Haliotisfulgens“Green Abalone” Southern California Haliotis iris “Blackfoot Paua” New Zealand Haliotiskamtschatkana“Northern Abalone” California (endangered) Haliotislaevigata“Smooth Australian Abalone” Australia Haliotismidae“South African Abalone” South Africa Haliotisrubra“BlacklipAbalone”Australia Haliotistuberculata“Green Ormer” Europe There are about 100 species (150 with hybrids) Large abalones → temperate zone, small abalone → tropics and the cold zones.

6. Species Haliotisasinina“Ass's Ear Abalone” South East Asia Haliotisrufescens“Red Abalone” California Haliotisdiscus “Disk Abalone” Japan Haliotis discus hannai“Japanese Abalone” Japan, Korea Haliotisdiversicolorsupertexta“VariousllyColoured Abalone” Japan Haliotisfulgens“Green Abalone” Southern California Haliotis iris “Blackfoot Paua” New Zealand Haliotiskamtschatkana“Northern Abalone” California (endangered) Haliotislaevigata“Smooth Australian Abalone” Australia Haliotismidae“South African Abalone” South Africa Haliotisrubra“BlacklipAbalone”Australia Haliotistuberculata“Green Ormer” Europe There are about 100 species (150 with hybrids) Large abalones → temperate zone, small abalone → tropics and the cold zones.

7. Why Aquaculture Abalone? In the last 20+ years abalone populations have declined Commercial catch worldwide has declined from 18,000mt to a little over 10,000mt (predation, loss of habitat, illegal harvesting) An entree of two 4-inch abalone steaks can cost $50-plus Purchased raw, smaller abalone (in-shell) costs $20 per pound; the price increases as the abalone size increases. Market locations: Korea, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Southern Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, and China Shells are part of the jewelry industry cause they’re pretty

8. Abalone Life Cycle

9. Reproduction In Captivity... Spawning occurs mostly during the summer months and multiple events during one season are possible 1.Ultraviolet method 2. Desiccation method 3. Thermal shock method The eggs & sperm are released → fertilization A 1.5 inch abalone may spawn 10,000 eggs or more at a time, while an 8 inch abalone may spawn 11 million or more. 24hrs later egg hatches (microscopic) → free living larvae A week later, it settles on the bottom = spat Begins to develop into an adult

11. Production methods used: Juveniles are in controlled tanks and attached to setting boards When the juveniles reach 5–6 mm after 80 days → intermediate rearing tanks Intermediate culture period the abalones are reared up to 3 cm (high density 3–5 kg/m2 and usually with a high survival rate) > 3cm  Land-basedrearing tanks or in the sea

12. Production methods used: Land-based rearing tanks or in the sea The land-based method = easier management (artificial feed , electrical pumps, blowers) Raised in concrete tanks with fresh sea water pumped in Waste should be regularly removed- once a week at high temperatures, and once a fortnight at low temperatures IMTA- Israel cultured marine fish, seaweeds, and Japanese abalone. The sea-based method uses rearing cage hung from a floating line or raft set at sea. Affected by seasonal limitation of the environment/ density 2–3 kg/m2 Dead organisms beneath the rearing tank should be removed and a good water flow provided

16. Feeds and Feeding The diatom plates → feed free-swimming stage after spawning Larvae will settle on the plates and feed on the diatoms Abalone eat marine algae in the wild and on some farms Abalone farming limited by the quality and quantity of the macroalgae sources worldwide Cultured abalone, many farms now use high quality manufactured food, which is healthy, efficient and produces very high quality meat. Juvenile abalone usually feed on benthic diatoms and small benthic organisms. At 13 mm long they feed on a great variety of seaweeds Large brown algae such as giant kelp, bull kelp, feather boa kelp and elk kelp Young barnacles, bivalves and foraminiferans are also found in the stomach of abalones Feeding habits affected by temperature (20 °C is optimum)

19. How big can they get?

20. How to have happy abalone... Water temperature 20°C Salinity >30 ‰ Do >4 ppm Light intensity >3000 Lux NH4OH-N <5 ppb PH 8.0–8.3

21. Advantages Disadvantages Leave little or no negative environmental effects Low maintenance Can use high quality dried food Can use ocean water Sell meat and shells (60% weight) Live around 50 years Predators/ parasites if using cages in ocean 5-8 years to reach maturity A lot of natural food required- limiting Transfer of disease Unwanted species trans located with abalones