Other fish species cultured in the past, mainly in lagoons in Morocco, are common
dentex (Dentex dentex), white sea bream (Diplodus sargus), sharpsnout sea bream
(Puntazzo puntazzo), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), spotted sea bass (Dicentrarchus
punctatus), blackspot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo), and European eel (Anguilla
anguilla).
The most cultured mollusk in the Alboran Sea is mussel (Mytilus
galloprovincialis), a black bivalve slightly triangular and with two elongated symmetrical valves. Mussel farming can be considered to be undertaken in an extensive
regime, because despite the high density, no food is provided. Mussel seeds are
obtained from the wild and successfully cultivated in floating structures like rafts,
rigid wooden structures equipped with large floats, or longline, longitudinal ropes
attached to several floats. Vertical ropes that hold the mussels hang from both
systems. The rafts are located in protected locations and constitute the main mussel
farming system in Galicia (NW Spain).
Other cultured mollusks are different members of the scallop genus Pecten
(Bivalvia: Pectinidae) including king scallop, Pecten maximus; black scallop,
Mimachlamys varia; and queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis. There have also
been attempts, mainly in Morocco, to cultivate flat oyster, Japanese oyster, and
different species of clams.
For several years there has been a growing interest in the culture of common
octopus (Octopus vulgaris). This cephalopod is a species of high growth and great
commercial value, and the reduction of catches observed in recent years has intensified the interest in its culture. It is a semi-culture that consists of the capture of adult
individuals (minimum weight in Andalusia is 1 kg), and they’re ongrowing during a
period of 3–4 months. In this they can reach up to 3–4 kg in weight.
Among the other cultured species, of note, are microalgae (Tetraselmis,
Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Dunaliella), macroalgae (Ulva lactuca and Gracilaria
gracilis), rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), holothuriae, anemone, sea urchin, Mediterranean brine shrimp (Artemia salina), and shrimps (Penaeus kerathurus and
Penaeus monodon).
20.3 Aquaculture in Spanish Coasts
Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea in Spain is still ongoing. Although numerous
projects have been started, currently there are only two cage facilities, twelve
mollusk farming facilities (in rafts and in long lines), a gilthead sea bream nursery,
and another two onshore facilities that deal with experimental rearing of octopus and
holothuria. There is a web page from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Feeding (https://servicio.pesca.mapama.es/acuivisor/) which shows the facilities
running in 2018.
The Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) publishes yearly a
document on the production of marine aquaculture in Andalusia. The last one could
be found in https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/export/drupaljda/20190612%
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
663
dentex (Dentex dentex), white sea bream (Diplodus sargus), sharpsnout sea bream
(Puntazzo puntazzo), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), spotted sea bass (Dicentrarchus
punctatus), blackspot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo), and European eel (Anguilla
anguilla).
The most cultured mollusk in the Alboran Sea is mussel (Mytilus
galloprovincialis), a black bivalve slightly triangular and with two elongated symmetrical valves. Mussel farming can be considered to be undertaken in an extensive
regime, because despite the high density, no food is provided. Mussel seeds are
obtained from the wild and successfully cultivated in floating structures like rafts,
rigid wooden structures equipped with large floats, or longline, longitudinal ropes
attached to several floats. Vertical ropes that hold the mussels hang from both
systems. The rafts are located in protected locations and constitute the main mussel
farming system in Galicia (NW Spain).
Other cultured mollusks are different members of the scallop genus Pecten
(Bivalvia: Pectinidae) including king scallop, Pecten maximus; black scallop,
Mimachlamys varia; and queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis. There have also
been attempts, mainly in Morocco, to cultivate flat oyster, Japanese oyster, and
different species of clams.
For several years there has been a growing interest in the culture of common
octopus (Octopus vulgaris). This cephalopod is a species of high growth and great
commercial value, and the reduction of catches observed in recent years has intensified the interest in its culture. It is a semi-culture that consists of the capture of adult
individuals (minimum weight in Andalusia is 1 kg), and they’re ongrowing during a
period of 3–4 months. In this they can reach up to 3–4 kg in weight.
Among the other cultured species, of note, are microalgae (Tetraselmis,
Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Dunaliella), macroalgae (Ulva lactuca and Gracilaria
gracilis), rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), holothuriae, anemone, sea urchin, Mediterranean brine shrimp (Artemia salina), and shrimps (Penaeus kerathurus and
Penaeus monodon).
20.3 Aquaculture in Spanish Coasts
Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea in Spain is still ongoing. Although numerous
projects have been started, currently there are only two cage facilities, twelve
mollusk farming facilities (in rafts and in long lines), a gilthead sea bream nursery,
and another two onshore facilities that deal with experimental rearing of octopus and
holothuria. There is a web page from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Feeding (https://servicio.pesca.mapama.es/acuivisor/) which shows the facilities
running in 2018.
The Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) publishes yearly a
document on the production of marine aquaculture in Andalusia. The last one could
be found in https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/export/drupaljda/20190612%
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
663