Primary test on artificial spawning induction and breeding of Holothuria scabra

Holothuria scabra isan important tropical sea cucumber species in South China. Combining methods of thermal stimulation, dry treatment and powerful water jet, etc., we artificially induced the spawning and successfully bred H.scabra for the first time in China.During April~June, 2010, among10 batches of 243 H.scabra bloodstocks,5 batches of parent H.scabra succeeded in sperm releasing and spawning (spawning rate: 50%); 1 652.72104 eggs were produced and 1 226.74104 larvae were hatched out (hatching rate: 74.23%). At water temperature of 27.5~30 ℃, it took 32.5 h for the fertilized eggs to finish embryo development. We chosesome larvae for 21-dayrearing and obtained 19.43104 early juveniles (size: 0.1 cm) with a survival of 16.7%; after 32-day rearing, 2.46104 late juveniles (size: 0.3~0.5 cm) were obtained with a survivalof 2.12%. The study is important for the future natural H.scabra population recovery in Beibu Gulf and its industrialized breeding in South China.