Aquaculture of Strongylocentrotus intermedius in Fujian coastal areas

In order to explore the feasibility of Strongylocentrotus intermedius of seasonal breeding in Fujian coastal areas, we moved a new breed of S. intermedius ‘Dajin’ southward to Fuzhou sea area in November 2018. The tested S. intermedius was divided into two types: large-size (3 cm test diameter) and small-size (1 cm test diameter). Using the existing abalone breeding facilities, we regularly fed Laminaria japonica and Gracilaria lemaneiformis. After six months of breeding, the test diameter of large-size S. intermedius bred in Fuzhou had reached (55.90±2.63) mm, while the body mass had reached (56.30±6.92) g and the gonadal index reached (15.02±1.5)%. The gonadal development entered the stage of premature (Stage III) with good quality, which was significantly greater than the test diameter (46.56±3.88) mm and body mass (39.07±5.05) g for S. intermedius bred in Dalian in the same period (P<0.05). Besides, the test diameter of small-size S. intermedius in Fuzhou had reached (40.97±0.87) mm, while the body mass had reached (23.18±0.37) g and the gonadal index had reached (9.64±1.00)%. Thus, it is suggested that seasonally breeding S. intermedius in the coastal areas of Fujian Province in winter and spring is feasible. Feeding with local fresh algae on basis of existing facilities and abalone cages leads to higer growth rate of S. intermedius than those bred in Dalian in the same period. The important way to meet the increasing market demand of S. intermedius is to move the breeding southward along Fujian coast.