ISLA CULEBRA, PUERTO RICO

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ISLA CULEBRA, PUERTO RICO
SUSTAINABLE OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN
CULEBRA A PARTNERSHIP FOR A BRIGHTER
FUTURE Daniel Benetti, Brian OHanlon, Joe
Ayvazian, Jose Rivera, Lourdes Feliciano, Dallas
Alston, Alexis Cabarcas,Sarah Meltzoff, Kurt
Grove, Owen Stevens, Jorge Alarcon, Gill
Banner-Stevens
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Statement of Need

• Traditional fisheries and aquaculture (drawbacks)
• Paradigm shift from traditional aquaculture
  systems to advanced offshore technology
• Technology for the development of an
  environmentally sustainable and commercially
  viable industry that will bring enormous social
  and economical benefits to the region
• Community acceptance and support is basis for
  sustainability educational and training program
  to create jobs
• and new opportunities

SNAPPER
COBIA
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Background Offshore aquaculturedemonstration
project

• Cobia (Rachycentron canadun) and Sama (Lutjanus
  analis) juveniles purchased from hatchery (ACFK)
• Transferred to 2 offshore growout cages
  (SeaStation 3000), operated by Snapperfarm with
  collaboration of Culebra Fishermen Association
  and assistance from PRIDCO, located 2 miles west
  of Culebra Island
• Environmental responsibility increased depth,
  strong current, distance from shore, oligotrophic
  conditions, sandy bottom, etc.
• Stock harvest 10-12 months
• (snapper 1.0-1.5 lb cobia 10-16 lb)

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Objectives of the Program

• Educate local community
• (students, technicians,
• fishermen) on the benefits
• of aquaculture technology to create support base
  for existing and future development projects
• Sustainable development limited by hatchery /
  educational / training complex to educate, train
  and produce locally

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• Identify core group of individuals to implement
  and manage educational program (students,
  fishermen, all interested community members)
• Train locals in sustainable offshore aquaculture
  and hatchery techniques
• Create potential source of alternative and
  additional income for local community

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• Create potential source of income for local
  community by providing specialized technical
  skills in the management of aquaculture
  operations.
• Create a better prepared and specialized
  work-force, in response to potential expansion of
  aquaculture projects in the region.
• Individuals can learn and potentially replicate
  this technology in other aquaculture projects and
  create a new industry
• The concept of sustainable development
  environmentally friendly and economically viable.

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HATCHERY FOR HIGH-VALUE MARINE FISH IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS - TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Rotifer/Artemia
Microalgae/Phytoplankton
Larval rearing/Intensive
Maturation/Broodstock
Mesocosm/Semi-intensive
Growout/Cages
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HATCHERY TECHNOLOGY OF COBIA AND SNAPPER
Sampling/Sexing
Handling
Prophylaxis
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Sama are shipped and stocked at 2 months-old _at_
3.5 g and 5.74 cm
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Cobia are shipped and stocked at 1 month _at_
3.0-5.0 g and 7-10 cm
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Harvesting, Transporting and Shipping
Fingerlings expensive, complex operation
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Stocking the Offshore Cages off Culebra Is.,
Puerto Rico
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DAILY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FEEDING, CLEANING NETS,
INSPECTING, ETC.
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Growth rates of cobia in offshore cages off
Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Offshore Cages Age 8 months - Weight 6-10 lb
- Survival gt 95 - FCR 0.7-1.0 Inshore
Cages Age 9 months - Weight 3-6 lb -
Survival - FCR (lake turn over, 90
mortality)
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GROWTH RATES OF COBIA IN OFFSHORE CAGE OFF
CULEBRA ISLAND, PR
Projections point out to one of the fastest
growth rates ever recorded for fishes
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Environmental assessment

• Biological factors
• Fouling
• Chlorophyll
• Productivity
• Assemblage

• Physical factors
• Bathymetry
• Bottom type
• Coastal topography
• Wind velocity
• Current
• Local precipitation
• Air and water temperature
• Turbidity

• Chemical factors
• Total suspended solids
• Ammonia
• Nitrite
• Nitrate
• Phosphate
• Dissolved oxygen
• Organic matter
• Nitrogen

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CULEBRA - SNAPPERFARM PROJECT
Center for Sustainable Fisheries
www.snapperfarm.com
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ISLA CULEBRA, PUERTO RICO
MUCHAS GRACIAS! Asociación de Pescadores de la
Isla de Culebra Snapperfarm, Inc. !A sus
ordenes!