Development of loco seed production at North of Chile

Development of loco seed production at North of Chile

Masatoshi FUTAGAWA

September 19, 2016

Our project, between UNAP and regional government of Tarapaca chile, develop mas seed production method of loco (Concholepas concholepas) in order to recover loco natural resources from 2013 to 2015.

We completed the method that broodstock rearing, maturation and capsule incubation. Hatch-out larvae are produced all year round constantly and over 200 million of hatch-out larvae are released to our coast. Also we produced some larvae which grew more than 130 days after hatch-out with clear water which filtered, disinfected by UV and sterilized with autoclave. However, we couldn’t develop mass seed production method.

 

The mass seed production technology is under studying by decades and aim is not accomplish yet in Chile. Because of the following reasons make hard to achieve.

1. Loco larvae has four month planktonic period (veliger stage) that very long period compared to other achieved species such as oyster and scallop. During this period, the larvae survival is less than 1%. Additionally it needs few months to grow to juvenile size which resist to predator.
2. Loco larva changes behavior after metamorphosis, four month after hatch-out, planktonic to benthic and herbivorous to carnivorous. Thus, we require rearing systems and feeds for both ways of behavior.
3. Possibly the juvenile production cost is too high due to mortality during long production period and facility cost of rearing systems for two behaviors even complete the method.

 

As of now, we don’t develop the mass seed production method yet. Even so, we completed the method that produce hatch-out larva all the year round. In fact there are many juveniles are observed in our coast which are released from our incubation system possibly, needs genetic analysis. Therefore, I recommend following method to improve coastal loco resource until develop mas seed production method.

The method consist broodstock rearing system, incubation system at hatchery and artificial reef for juvenile at tidal zone. We feed mussel to broodstock and collect capsules, and incubate capsules in the system. Release larvae to artificial reef that design to protect predators such as starfish and crabs. When time to time, we collect juveniles at the reef and seeding to particular area.