First Patagonian toothfish spawning in captivity achieved

Patagonian toothfish -Dissostichus eleginoides

First Patagonian toothfish spawning in captivity achieved

CHILE
Friday, December 07, 2012, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

A team of scientists and technicians of the Education Corporation La Araucana achieved the first spawning stage of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) from wild fish kept in captivity in ponds in Puerto Montt, Los Lagos Region.

"Achieving the first spawning stage of these fish is a milestone of great significance to promoting diversification of Chilean aquaculture," welcomed the project manager, Alberto Reyes.

It became clear "that the team is moving in the right direction to achieve the production of juveniles in captivity," the marine biologist, who has been working on this project for five years, told Aqua.

Reyes commented that these fish live at great depths, even exceeding 2,500 metres. Therefore, he stressed that "bringing them to the surface alive and keeping them in ponds involves a lot of work."

"The consequences of the most severe decompression the fish experience should be reduced as much as possible, a situation that also limits future survival," added the researcher.

Patagonian toothfish is also internationally known as grouper (Japan) or Chilean sea bass (US).

The first spawning stages were registered on 19 November and a few days later, the team managed to start the incubation of the first eggs of Patagonian toothfish.

The first stage of the project involved the creation of a set of reproducers from juvenile specimens and pre-reproducers caught in the wild. These animals were adjusted to the conditions in captivity and fattened in ponds until they reach the breeding size, Reyes explained.

In a second phase, the scientists will try to achieve juvenile production in captivity, having about 5 grams each.