In April 2000, the abovementioned facilities received a batch of juveniles of sole
(Solea senegalensis) from CUPIMAR Fish Farm; hence, for the first time, they were
undertaking the intensive worldwide culture of this species, that until then it was
only harvested in the estuaries of the Gulf of Cadiz. The success of the culture,
regarding growth and survival, allowed to commercialize the first Senegalese soles
bred totally in captivity, giving a rise to a stake in this species. In the 2001, problems
derived from the water quality caused pathologies to arise. Thus, contacts were
initiated with the Department of Microbiology at the University of Malaga for the
development of probiotics and autovaccines for the species, which produced interesting results.
In 2002, PROMAN began operating as a hatchery, developing larval cultures of
sole from fertilized eggs that were supplied by the Fisheries and Aquaculture
Research and Training Centre of El Toruño (Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz) and
forming their brood stock. Soles started to reproduce in 2003, and natural spawning
was obtained twice by year, in autumn and spring, that allowed PROMAN to supply
their own hatchery. The production of sole continued until 2010, when the company
closed, although since 2007 the culture was mostly carried out in recirculation
systems that allowed good growth and survival rates of more than 90% on average,
from the weaning to a stable commercial size.
In 2003, a project concerning seriola (Seriola dumerili) was undertaken by
PROMAN. In June of that year, PROMAN begins to transport the first specimens
from a nearby fishing trap, to form a batch of brood stock. In the spring of the
following years, the fish showed a behavior associated with spawning, but the
females did not mature, and no spawning occurred. In 2006, spawning was hormonally induced, and several viable batches of good-quality eggs were obtained, producing the first juveniles. The following year, the number of obtained fertilized eggs
was more abundant, and around 20,000 juveniles were produced, although a high
mortality rate occurred during transportation to the cages. In 2008, natural spawning
was obtained without the need for hormonal induction, and many juveniles were
successfully transferred to be fattened in cages. The process was repeated in 2009,
and about 35,000 juveniles were produced. Every year, some thousands of juveniles
were ongrown in tanks until they reached 3–5 kg of average weight; hence, they
were the first commercialized specimens born in captivity outside of Japan.
In 2010, the economic difficulties of the business group led the company to
bankruptcy and to sell all stocks, including brood stock. A few years later,
PROMAN was acquired by Aldalmar Biotech which dedicated its endeavors to
the ongrowing of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris).
Another nearby fish farming company was Azucarera de Guadalfeo S.A., which,
using hot water from a sugar production plant, was dedicated to the pre-ongrowing
of sea bream and sea bass, while also having a nearby facility offshore for the
ongrowing of these species in the sea. Azucarera de Guadalfeo S.A. started its
activity in 2001 and remained active until 2010. Later, Azucarera de Guadalfeo
S.A. was acquired by other entrepreneurs and currently belongs to Aquaculture of
Granada.
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
667
(Solea senegalensis) from CUPIMAR Fish Farm; hence, for the first time, they were
undertaking the intensive worldwide culture of this species, that until then it was
only harvested in the estuaries of the Gulf of Cadiz. The success of the culture,
regarding growth and survival, allowed to commercialize the first Senegalese soles
bred totally in captivity, giving a rise to a stake in this species. In the 2001, problems
derived from the water quality caused pathologies to arise. Thus, contacts were
initiated with the Department of Microbiology at the University of Malaga for the
development of probiotics and autovaccines for the species, which produced interesting results.
In 2002, PROMAN began operating as a hatchery, developing larval cultures of
sole from fertilized eggs that were supplied by the Fisheries and Aquaculture
Research and Training Centre of El Toruño (Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz) and
forming their brood stock. Soles started to reproduce in 2003, and natural spawning
was obtained twice by year, in autumn and spring, that allowed PROMAN to supply
their own hatchery. The production of sole continued until 2010, when the company
closed, although since 2007 the culture was mostly carried out in recirculation
systems that allowed good growth and survival rates of more than 90% on average,
from the weaning to a stable commercial size.
In 2003, a project concerning seriola (Seriola dumerili) was undertaken by
PROMAN. In June of that year, PROMAN begins to transport the first specimens
from a nearby fishing trap, to form a batch of brood stock. In the spring of the
following years, the fish showed a behavior associated with spawning, but the
females did not mature, and no spawning occurred. In 2006, spawning was hormonally induced, and several viable batches of good-quality eggs were obtained, producing the first juveniles. The following year, the number of obtained fertilized eggs
was more abundant, and around 20,000 juveniles were produced, although a high
mortality rate occurred during transportation to the cages. In 2008, natural spawning
was obtained without the need for hormonal induction, and many juveniles were
successfully transferred to be fattened in cages. The process was repeated in 2009,
and about 35,000 juveniles were produced. Every year, some thousands of juveniles
were ongrown in tanks until they reached 3–5 kg of average weight; hence, they
were the first commercialized specimens born in captivity outside of Japan.
In 2010, the economic difficulties of the business group led the company to
bankruptcy and to sell all stocks, including brood stock. A few years later,
PROMAN was acquired by Aldalmar Biotech which dedicated its endeavors to
the ongrowing of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris).
Another nearby fish farming company was Azucarera de Guadalfeo S.A., which,
using hot water from a sugar production plant, was dedicated to the pre-ongrowing
of sea bream and sea bass, while also having a nearby facility offshore for the
ongrowing of these species in the sea. Azucarera de Guadalfeo S.A. started its
activity in 2001 and remained active until 2010. Later, Azucarera de Guadalfeo
S.A. was acquired by other entrepreneurs and currently belongs to Aquaculture of
Granada.
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
667