176
A. V. Sykes et al.
countries such as Spain, Italy and Japan being the main consumers (Boucaud-Camou
1990; FAO 2012).
S� officinalis had an average world production of 16,769 t year
−1
(2000–2010),
showing an increasing trend during this period (FAO-FIGIS 2012). The species is
primarily caught by otter and beam trawlers, either as a target species or as catch of
demersal finfish fisheries. In southern European countries like Portugal, this species
is caught by several fishing methods such as iron traps, trammel nets, bottom trawl,
gill nets and purse seine (Sendão et al. 2007), similar to the traditional fishing gears
used in other European countries. While trawlers operate in inshore and offshore
fishing grounds for both juvenile and adult specimens, artisanal gears, like fish
traps, are used to catch spawning animals mainly in inshore areas.
The species potential for aquaculture has been recognized by Barnabé (1996)
and Boucaud-Camou (1989). This was due to a set of biological and physiological
aspects that were described by Forsythe and Van Heukelem (1987) and which are
shared by other cephalopod species. S� officinalis has been successfully reared in
extensive aquaculture experiments at a medium scale in several EU countries such
as Italy, France and Portugal.
The commercial culture of cuttlefish will possibly have a high impact on fisheries
production in the near future, as it could allow the sale of undersized individuals
(approximately 50 g) that may be produced in only 45–60 days.
11.2 State of the Art
Cultured S� officinalis is used as an animal model for biological and biomedical
research (e.g. physiology, neuroscience, nutritional biochemistry, ageing, molecular
biology or immunology), for aquaculture production and also for public exhibition
in aquariums. During the past 20–25 years, a great part of the research on cuttlefish
has focused on its use as a new species for aquaculture. When viable, economical
and logistic cuttlefish culture is attained, this species will become one of the most
relevant marine animal models and make an important impact in other fields of
research. The use of cephalopods as animal models has already greatly contributed
to the scientific advance of humankind (i.e. the Nobel Prize won by Hodgkin and
Huxley in 1963 regarding the squid’s giant axon). Thus, research on cuttlefish culture will have further application for the development of culture technology of other
cephalopod species and will provide a cultured invertebrate model that shares some
biological features with vertebrates.
The most recent revision on the status of cuttlefish culture was performed by
Sykes et al. (2006b), in which the major bottlenecks limiting its transition into an
industrial scale were identified. Currently, the three main factors still delaying the
large-scale culture are (1) the dependence on live prey during the first part of the life
cycle, (2) the lack of an adequate artificial diet for all life stages of this species and
(3) full control of reproduction in captivity. Due to the low number of laboratories
involved in the resolution of these problems, small but steady progress was made
A. V. Sykes et al.
countries such as Spain, Italy and Japan being the main consumers (Boucaud-Camou
1990; FAO 2012).
S� officinalis had an average world production of 16,769 t year
−1
(2000–2010),
showing an increasing trend during this period (FAO-FIGIS 2012). The species is
primarily caught by otter and beam trawlers, either as a target species or as catch of
demersal finfish fisheries. In southern European countries like Portugal, this species
is caught by several fishing methods such as iron traps, trammel nets, bottom trawl,
gill nets and purse seine (Sendão et al. 2007), similar to the traditional fishing gears
used in other European countries. While trawlers operate in inshore and offshore
fishing grounds for both juvenile and adult specimens, artisanal gears, like fish
traps, are used to catch spawning animals mainly in inshore areas.
The species potential for aquaculture has been recognized by Barnabé (1996)
and Boucaud-Camou (1989). This was due to a set of biological and physiological
aspects that were described by Forsythe and Van Heukelem (1987) and which are
shared by other cephalopod species. S� officinalis has been successfully reared in
extensive aquaculture experiments at a medium scale in several EU countries such
as Italy, France and Portugal.
The commercial culture of cuttlefish will possibly have a high impact on fisheries
production in the near future, as it could allow the sale of undersized individuals
(approximately 50 g) that may be produced in only 45–60 days.
11.2 State of the Art
Cultured S� officinalis is used as an animal model for biological and biomedical
research (e.g. physiology, neuroscience, nutritional biochemistry, ageing, molecular
biology or immunology), for aquaculture production and also for public exhibition
in aquariums. During the past 20–25 years, a great part of the research on cuttlefish
has focused on its use as a new species for aquaculture. When viable, economical
and logistic cuttlefish culture is attained, this species will become one of the most
relevant marine animal models and make an important impact in other fields of
research. The use of cephalopods as animal models has already greatly contributed
to the scientific advance of humankind (i.e. the Nobel Prize won by Hodgkin and
Huxley in 1963 regarding the squid’s giant axon). Thus, research on cuttlefish culture will have further application for the development of culture technology of other
cephalopod species and will provide a cultured invertebrate model that shares some
biological features with vertebrates.
The most recent revision on the status of cuttlefish culture was performed by
Sykes et al. (2006b), in which the major bottlenecks limiting its transition into an
industrial scale were identified. Currently, the three main factors still delaying the
large-scale culture are (1) the dependence on live prey during the first part of the life
cycle, (2) the lack of an adequate artificial diet for all life stages of this species and
(3) full control of reproduction in captivity. Due to the low number of laboratories
involved in the resolution of these problems, small but steady progress was made