III.-New echinoderm species: sea urchins and sea cucumbers

• Lead scientificpartner: NOFIMA.
• Lead industrial partner: Wild Coast Abalone.

This case study will aim to considerable increase in sea urchin production from areas that are currently low producers and where existing high sea urchin populations have a significantly negative environmental impact. It will do this by developing the production of enhanced sea urchin roe as an aquaculture product.

Specific tasks will include:

• Develop the design and implementation of a land-based, commercial scale holding system suitable for sea urchin roe enhancement in Europe.
• Design and implement protocols for commercial scale land and sea-based roe enhancement in Europe and South Africa.
• Identify potential environmental impact and benefit from sea urchin roe enhancement.

Sea cucumber species, site selection and key hatchery steps

• Lead scientific partner: AWI.
• Lead industrial partner:

This case study will create the basis for successful marine and land-based aquaculture of identified sea cucumber species in the Southwest Atlantic.

Specific tasks will include:

• Providing all data necessary to serve as a guideline for species of primary interest for development, site selection and hatchery provision for establishing and developing sea cucumber aquaculture in Brazil.
• Identifying species and selecting for optimal environmental conditions in various locations in the Atlantic.
• Undertaking controlled feeding experiments to optimise growth and describe basic hatchery methods, broodstock collection and spawning and larval rearing for optimal species.