Principles of Marine Fish Larviculture

The aim of this course is to give a general overview and principles of marine fish larviculture, focusing on nutritional and zootechnical aspects. Firstly, larval nutritional requirements in general are addressed. The different aquatic invertebrates that can be used as live food are highlighted, including their natural availability, general characteristics,culture techniques and fields of application in larviculture of mainly marine fish.
Also developments in the field of microdiets are explained:

• introduction to marine fish species larviculture: principles, techniques, past and present successes and bottlenecks, perspectives and current developments with focus on nutrition; crucial role of live food;
• artemia biology, ecology and taxonomy and strain study; production of cysts and biomass; commercial aspects and quality control; Artemia applications in aquaculture;
• production techniques and applications of rotifers and other zooplankton organisms;
• larviculture of marine fish species: general feeding strategies and zootechnical aspects.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• show general knowledge on general principles of marine fish larviculture, such as techniques used, current developments and future perspectives;
• show in-depth knowledge on the nutritional aspects of marine fish larviculture: nutritional requirements; feeding behaviour; live food versus artificial diets;
• show detailed knowledge on various aspects of different live food organisms (rotifers, Artemia, other zooplankton organisms) used in larviculture, such as their advantages and restrictions, availability, production techniques and fields of application;
• show general knowledge on Artemia biology, ecology and taxonomy

Assumed Knowledge:
General Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry.