The first larval culture protocol for wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) developed by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has been so successful that it has raised the possibility of breeding them for aquaculture.
Wreckfish, known as "rock grouper" in northern Spain, has always garnered high interest in aquaculture due to its rapid growth and high market value, a factor compounded by the decline in wild catches over the last decade. As demonstrated in the study, individuals can reach 2 kg in weight in approximately one year in captivity. These figures are exceptional when compared to other species, including widely cultivated ones like turbot, gilt-head bream, or sea bass. Specifically, sea bream and sea bass do not reach 400 grams in weight until a year and a half.
The study published in the Aquaculture journal states that a thorough evaluation of wreckfish cultivation under various conditions has determined that low survival rates and the quality of larvae born in captivity have been the two main factors hindering the development of its commercial cultivation until now.
The study has been ongoing since 2008, with regular and spontaneous spawns. Over the years, they established the protocol for maintaining and maturing captive breeders, which led to the first successful spawns in the 2010s.
In recent years, different conditions and larval culture systems have been evaluated. These protocols have laid the groundwork for producing sufficient high-quality juvenile wreckfish to meet the needs of commercial grow-out companies shortly.
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography is a public research institution under the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the CSIC. With a budget exceeding 65 million euros, IEO has a team of around 700 employees, primarily researchers. It conducts high-quality research in oceanography and marine sciences, advises the government on fisheries and marine policy. Furthermore, it represents Spain in international marine organizations, promotes regional and global marine research collaboration. The IEO's mission is to enhance the understanding of the oceans and promote their sustainable use.
