Aquaculture 171 1999.

227235

Density dependent growth of the tropical abalone

Haliotis asinina in cage culture
E.C. Capinpin Jr. ) , J.D. Toledo, V.C. Encena II, M. Doi
Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Deelopment Center, 5021 Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines
Accepted 12 November 1998

Abstract
The effects of different stocking densities on the growth, feed conversion ratio and survival of
two size groups of the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina were determined. Three culture trials
were conducted in net cages installed in a sheltered cove, Guimaras Province, Philippines. Trials 1
and 2 were conducted using 1520 mm abalone juveniles for 150 days, while trial 3 was
conducted using 3540 mm abalone for 180 days. The animals were fed sufficient amounts of the
red alga, Gracilariopsis bailinae s G. heteroclada., throughout the experiment. There was an
inverse relationship between growth length and weight. and stocking density. Feed conversion
ratio was not influenced by density, but was observed to be higher for larger animals. Survival
was not significantly affected by density. Net cages are appropriate for culture of H. asinina. This
study showed that H. asinina can reach commercial size of about 60 mm in one year. It also
showed that growth of H. asinina can be sustained on a single-species diet. An economic analysis
will be important in choosing the best stocking density for commercial production. q 1999
Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Tropical abalone; Haliotis asinina; Stocking density; Growth; Feed conversion ratio; Survival

1. Introduction
The Philippines is one of the principal countries harvesting abalone Nash, 1991..
The industry relies heavily on wild catch since there is no commercial grow-out system
for Haliotis asinina Jarayabhand and Paphavasit, 1996..
The economic viability of commercial abalone farming depends on the system design
used for grow-out culture. Due to the long culture period and slow growth, profit can be
)

Corresponding author. SEAFDECrAQD, 17 Times Street, West Triangle, 1104 Quezon City, Metro
Manila, Philippines. Tel.: q63-2-372-3980 to 82; Fax: q63-2-372-3983
0044-8486r99r$ - see front matter q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 4 4 - 8 4 8 6 9 8 . 0 0 4 9 0 - 6

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E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

marginal in land-based systems. Hence, it is important to test alternative means of

growing abalone juveniles to marketable size, such as net cages set in the sea, to
minimize production costs. Cage culture is practised in many abalone-producing countries Hahn, 1989.. An ideal system promotes even distribution of animals, ready access
to feed, minimum contact of animals and feed with faecal wastes, good water flow and
exchange, and minimum human disturbance Fleming and Hone, 1996..
Another factor limiting the expansion of abalone cultivation is the availability of
suitable algal rations Mercer et al., 1993; Sphigel et al., 1996a,b.. In the Philippines,
cultured macroalgae are readily available as food for abalone Capinpin and Corre,
1996..
Maximization of growth is important to successful commercial production. A variety
of factors are known to influence the growth of abalone juveniles. Beside food quality
Mercer et al., 1993; Mai et al., 1994., stocking density Koike et al., 1979; Chen, 1984;
Jee et al., 1988; Mgaya and Mercer, 1995; Marsden and Williams, 1996. and water
quality Hahn, 1989; Fallu, 1991. are important.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of different stocking densities on
the growth, feed conversion ratio FCR., and survival of two size groups of the tropical
abalone H. asinina fed the red alga Gracilariopsis bailinae s G. heteroclada. in net
cages.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Abalone jueniles
H. asinina juveniles produced from spontaneous spawnings at
of SEAFDECrAQD in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines were used
Two initial size groups, 1620 mm and 3540 mm, were used in
Hatchery-reared H. asinina attains sexual maturity at about
Capinpin et al., 1998..

the
for
the
35

mollusc hatchery
the experiments.
culture trials.
mm shell length

2.2. System design

The net cages measuring 40 = 40 = 20 cm were constructed using polyvinyl chloride
PVC. pipes fitted together and covered with netting material. Two pieces of PVC
gutters 32 cm = 32 cm. were placed inside each cage as shelters. The total underside
surface area was 0.2 m2 but the total surface area for attachment was 0.4 m2 . The net
cages were suspended about 1.5 m below the water surface from floating rafts at the
Igang Marine Substation IMSS. of SEAFDECrAQD in a sheltered cove, Guimaras
Province, Philippines.
2.3. Culture trials
Three trials were conducted as shown in Table 1. The growth trials were 150 days for
trial 1 19 June 1996 to 16 November 1996. and trial 2 19 November 1996 to 18 April
1997., and 180 days for trial 3 04 December 1996 to 02 June 1997..

E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

229

Table 1
Daily growth rates of length DGSL . and weightDG W ., survival rates SR. and feed conversion ratios FCR.
of H. asinina fed G. bailinae in net cages at different stocking densities
Trial

1
2

Stocking density
Per cage

my2 .

45
180
45
90
135
17
35
52
70

113
450
113
225
338
43
88
130
175

DG W mg dayy1 .

DGSL mm dayy1 .

SR %.

FCR

139.60"0.93
87.30"1.30
139.71"1.51
113.13"5.49
90.62"2.99
267.09"12.06
212.57"13.67
186.02"14.03
161.61"4.17

167.17"1.90
124.40"1.07
160.00"2.45
148.91"2.96
133.56"2.94
122.22"5.25
106.57"1.69
96.56"3.21
90.54"4.12

95.56"4.44 a
91.95"1.38 a
96.30"0.74 a
95.19"2.06 a
92.59"2.38 a
98.04"1.96 a
95.24"2.52 a
92.31"4.00 a
92.86"1.43 a

12.58"0.35a
13.50"0.13 a
13.98"0.16 a
14.32"0.84 a
15.54"0.71a
19.63"0.91a
19.85"1.11a
22.39"1.47 a
22.57"0.98 a

Means with the same superscript a. are not significantly different P ) 0.05..
1,2: Culture period, 150 days.
3: Culture period, 180 days.
1: Mean of 2 replicates.
2,3: Mean of 3 replicates.
Means"SE are presented.

Feeding was done at weekly intervals by providing a pre-determined amount of the

alga G. bailinae and weighing the excess before replacing new amounts of feed. Freshly
collected macroalgae were drained for 1 h using an improvised strainer to remove excess
water before weighing. Abalone length and weight were measured every 15 days in
trials 1 and 2 and every 30 days in trial 3. Mean weights were determined using a triple
beam balance Ohaus. and taking the biomass total weight of all animals. divided by
the total number of animals. The abalone were dislodged manually from the shelters
during sampling. Mean shell lengths were determined by measuring groups of abalone
with a vernier caliper; 30% of the population in each cage was sampled.
Daily growth rates in terms of weight DG W . and shell length DGSL . and feed
conversion ratio FCR. were calculated as follows:
DG W mg dayy1 . s G W rn
DGSL mm dayy1 . s G SLrn
FCR s TFCrbiomass gain
where G W is increase in weight mg.; G SL is increase in shell length mm.; n is days of
rearing; and TFC is total feed consumed fresh weight, g..
An estimate of daily feeding rate DFR. at various size intervals, in terms of fresh
weight of algae as a percentage of abalone weight, was determined as shown below:
DFR s Amount of feed consumedrbiomass. rn . = 100

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E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

where n is number of days usually 7.. Calculation of feeding rate was done after every
sampling, to gain a more meaningful estimate of actual feeding rate.
Dried feed samples collected at different times during the experiment were analyzed
for proximate composition.
2.4. Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance to compare significant differences between treatments SAS Institute, 1988.. A t-test procedure was then
used to compare treatment means for trial 1 since there were only 2 treatments, whereas
the Duncans multiple range test was used to compare treatment means for trials 2 and 3.

3. Results
There were significant differences in abalone length and weight, but not in survival
nor FCR, when taken over different time periods. The time periods used were days 30,
90 and 150 for trial 1, and 30 day time intervals for trials 2 and 3.
Fig. 1 shows the mean length mm. and weight g. of 1520 and 3540 mm H.
asinina fed G. bailinae for 150 Trials 1 and 2. and 180 days Trial 3. when grown at
different stocking densities, respectively.
Table 1 shows the daily growth rates of shell length mm dayy1 . and total weight
mg dayy1 ., and survival rates and FCR of H. asinina fed G. bailinae at different
stocking densities. Growth rates decreased as stocking density increased and H. asinina
showed sustained high growth rates even after reaching sexual maturity ) 35 mm shell
length..
Analysis of feed samples taken at different times of the experiment showed the
following variation in proximate composition: crude protein, 15.1 " 2.6%; crude fat,
0.6 " 0.2%; crude fiber, 6.1 " 0.4%.
Temperature and salinity ranged from 28328C and 3034 ppt, respectively for trial
1 and 25328C and 3034 ppt, respectively for trials 2 and 3.
3.1. Trial 1
There were significant differences in shell length and in weight between the two
densities 113 and 450 my2 . from day 60 onwards P - 0.05.. However, there were no
significant differences in survival nor FCR between the two stocking densities.
3.2. Trial 2
There were significant differences in shell length between the highest stocking
density 338 my2 . and the lower densities 113 and 225 my2 . from day 30 to day 120

E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

231

Fig. 1. Mean shell length mm. and mean weight g. of H. asinina, initially measuring 1520 mm Trials 1
and 2. and 3540 mm Trial 3., fed with G. bailinae at different stocking densities for 150 and 180 days,
respectively. Horizontal bars represent"SE

P - 0.05.. Significant differences were observed between the treatments from day 135
onwards P - 0.05.. There were significant differences in weight between the lowest
density 113 my2 . and the higher densities 225 and 338 my2 . from day 45 to day 105
P - 0.05.. Significant differences between treatments were observed from day 120
onwards P - 0.05.. However, there were no significant differences in survival nor FCR
between treatments per time interval nor when analyzed over time P ) 0.05..

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E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

Table 2
Daily feeding rate of H. asinina of various sizes feeding on G. bailinae a
Shell length mm.

Approximate body weight g.

Feeding rate b % body weightrday.

1620
2125
2630
3135
3640
4145
4650
5155
5660
)61

0.81.7
1.73.0
3.16.0
6.29.0
10.015.0
16.521.0
22.530.0
35.045.0
50.060.0
)65

3540
3035
2530
2025
1520
1217
1015
812
610
59

a
b

Fresh weight basis.

Calculated as amount of feed consumedrbiomass.r n.=100; ns number of days usually 7..

3.3. Trial 3
Both shell length and abalone weight differed significantly between the lowest
density 43 my2 . and the higher densities 88, 130 and 175 my2 . from day 90 to day
120 P - 0.05.. Significant differences between treatments were then observed from day
150 onwards P - 0.05.. However, no significant differences in survival nor FCR were
observed between treatments per time interval nor when analyzed over time P ) 0.05..
3.4. Feeding rates
Feeding rates varied greatly throughout the experiment. The ranges, shown in Table
2, may serve as a guide for determining the amount of macroalgae for effective
management of feeding. Generally, smaller and relatively faster-growing juveniles had
daily consumption rates that were relatively higher than larger individuals. Abalone
stocked at lower densities were also observed to have higher feeding rates than those
stocked at high densities.

4. Discussion
In our cages, the growth of individual abalone decreased as stocking density
increased. Similar results have been reported in other studies on abalone in net cages and
other culture systems Koike et al., 1979; Chen, 1984; Jee et al., 1988; Mgaya and
Mercer, 1995; Marsden and Williams, 1996., and other shellfish Jarayabhand and
Newkirk, 1989; Eversole et al., 1990; Parsons and Dadswell, 1992..
The inverse relationship between growth and stocking density suggests that there is
density-dependent competition for space or food Jarayabhand and Newkirk, 1989;
Parsons and Dadswell, 1992.. High density in the cage would make it difficult for
abalone at the bottom of the stack to move and ingest food, thus affecting their feeding

E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

233

rate even though there is enough food Mgaya and Mercer, 1995.. Abalone tend to stack
especially at high densities due to lack of primary attachment space Douros, 1987..
However, stacking restricts movement during feeding, especially in confined areas such
as net cages; hence, food limitation is probably one of the main factors affecting abalone
growth at high densities Mgaya and Mercer, 1995..
McShane and Naylor 1995. observed no difference in the growth of H. iris at low
0.3 my2 . and high 15 my2 . density aggregations in enclosures. However, the densities
used were much lower than those used in the present study, and unlikely to affect
feeding behavior.
The feeding rate of abalone depends on body size, type of food, season temperature.
and density Jee et al., 1988; Marsden and Williams, 1996.. Body size is a major factor
affecting feeding rates of gastropods. Generally, feeding rates per unit biomass are
higher in smaller and faster-growing juveniles than larger abalone Jee et al., 1988;
Marsden and Williams, 1996; Sphigel et al., 1996b.. Variations in feeding rates of
abalone are not unusual as abalone are known to be erratic feeders, sensitive to a number
of environmental and physiological influences Greenier and Takekawa, 1992.. However, grazing rates remain relatively constant among larger abalone. A previous study
also indicated that abalone stocked at low densities appeared to have higher feeding
rates than those stocked at higher densities, but these differences were not statistically
different Marsden and Williams, 1996.. It is also typical of many cultured organisms
that FCR is higher for larger individuals e.g., Sphigel et al., 1996b..
Long trials with other abalone species show that single-species diets can only sustain
growth for short periods; important nutrients become limiting when abalone are fed only
one algal species over extended periods Day and Fleming, 1992.. In contrast, the
present study showed sustained growth of H. asinina throughout the experiment,
implying the eminent suitability of G. bailinae as an adequate food for tropical abalone
culture. The high level of protein ) 15%. in the alga appears to be very suitable for this
tropical abalone.
Another important factor that may affect abalone growth is the rate of water flow.
Since feeding was done at weekly intervals, those at higher densities received higher
loads of feed which restricted water movement within the net cage. This is despite the
net cage being a good design because of potentially good water flow and high
surface-to-volume ratio Benson, 1986..
Growth of abalone is inhibited by increased levels of metabolic wastes and reduced
dissolved oxygen Hahn, 1989; Fallu, 1991.; hence, high water exchange rate is
important to maintain water quality as stocking densities increase Aviles and Shepherd,
1996.. The results show that net cages set in the sea are appropriate for culture of
tropical abalone.
Long term trials offer important information to farmers who are interested in the
growth rates that can be achieved at different seasons and stages of development
Fleming et al., 1996.. The present study had high growth rates Table 1. even at high
densities and after reaching maturity. The data show that H. asinina fed G. bailinae and
cultured in net cages can reach commercial size of 60 mm shell length in one year.
McNamara and Johnson 1995. estimated that H. asinina collected from Heron Reef
may grow to 55 mm in one year. On the other hand, H. asinina fed Gracilaria

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E.C. Capinpin Jr. et al.r Aquaculture 171 (1999) 227235

salicornia attain only 42.7 mm shell length Singhagraiwan and Sasaki, 1991. and 46
mm shell length when fed G. bailinae s G. heteroclada. under tank conditions
Capinpin and Corre, 1996..
The high growth rate of H. asinina achieved in the present study shows its strong
potential for culture. An economic analysis will be important for the choice of optimum
stocking density to maximize the production schedule and market potential.

Acknowledgements
The authors thank N.C. Bayona for technical support; F. Jarder of the Central
Analytical Laboratory of SEAFDECrAQD for the proximate analysis; D. Miciano and
V. Balinas for the statistical analysis; and Ms. M.T. Castanos
and Dr. T.U. Bagarinao
for comments and suggestions on the original manuscript. This project was partly
supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA..

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