317
17 Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Aquaculture of S� lessoniana has been successfully performed in various places and
times. Descriptions of aquaculture efforts include those by: Choe and Ohshima (1961,
1963), Ohshima and Choe (1961), and Choe (1966a, b) of efforts in Korea–Japan;
SEAFDEC (1975) of efforts in the Philippines; Nabhitabhata (1978, 1996), Nabhitabhata
and Kbinrum (1981), and Nabhitabhata et al. (1984, 1992b, 1996) of efforts in Thailand;
Saso (1979), Tsuchiya (1982), Segawa (1987, 1990, 1993), and Ikeda et al. (2003, 2009a)
of efforts in Japan; Sivalingam et al. (1993) of efforts in India; Lee et al. (1994, 1998a, b)
of efforts in the USA; and Ahmad and Usman (1997) of efforts in Indonesia. All of these
studies agree that the very high growth rate and large final size of S� lessoniana make
them a promising candidate for commercial aquaculture.
In Japan, S� lessoniana rearing experiments date from the early 1960s when
Ohshima and Choe (1961) reared hatchlings for up to 45 days in an open seawater system. Similar rearing experiments were also carried out by regional fisheries
experimental stations. In the 1980s, Tsuchiya (1982) succeeded in rearing S� lessoniana in an open seawater system from hatchlings to maturity in 306 days.
Later, Segawa (1987, 1993) reported the embryonic development and feeding
characteristics of juvenile squid using observations made during rearing experiments. Since then, S� lessoniana has been recognized as an advantageous squid for
aquaculture because this species can survive for long periods in captivity, as can
cuttlefishes. Lee et al. (1994) succeeded in culturing S� lessoniana for three generations in a closed water system and suggested this squid might be used as a model for
neuroscientific and behavioural studies. Advanced trials were carried out by Walsh
et al. (2002) who cultured S� lessoniana for seven generations. Ikeda et al. (2003)
also established culture traits of S� lessoniana in a closed seawater system, with the
goal of using this species to study brain science.
17.2 State of the Art
The life cycle of S� lessoniana can be completed under aquaculture conditions.
Broodstock are either collected from the wild, as they will spawn in captivity, or
cultured from egg capsules collected as a by-product of fishing. This is the initial phase of culture. Hatchlings are fed for up to 30 days on live feed (i.e. mysid
shrimps or shrimp postlarvae), collected from the wild or produced by hatcheries.
Similar facilities and management can be used in both closed and open systems
for the nursing of eggs and the nursing of young squid after hatching. Training the
young to feed on dead feed is the initial and critical period of the ongrowing phase.
A very high growth rate is a hallmark of the aquaculture of this species. Feeding efficiency is high from hatching to maturity. Cultured squid can reach 200 mm length
and 500 g weight in 120 days. Culture of this species in floating net cages and other
in situ facilities can reduce the cost of production. Future studies should focus on
live and artificial feed as well as taking advantage of size dimorphism, including
monosex culture and induction of sex reversion from females into larger males and
differences in the growth rate of different morphs.
17 Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Aquaculture of S� lessoniana has been successfully performed in various places and
times. Descriptions of aquaculture efforts include those by: Choe and Ohshima (1961,
1963), Ohshima and Choe (1961), and Choe (1966a, b) of efforts in Korea–Japan;
SEAFDEC (1975) of efforts in the Philippines; Nabhitabhata (1978, 1996), Nabhitabhata
and Kbinrum (1981), and Nabhitabhata et al. (1984, 1992b, 1996) of efforts in Thailand;
Saso (1979), Tsuchiya (1982), Segawa (1987, 1990, 1993), and Ikeda et al. (2003, 2009a)
of efforts in Japan; Sivalingam et al. (1993) of efforts in India; Lee et al. (1994, 1998a, b)
of efforts in the USA; and Ahmad and Usman (1997) of efforts in Indonesia. All of these
studies agree that the very high growth rate and large final size of S� lessoniana make
them a promising candidate for commercial aquaculture.
In Japan, S� lessoniana rearing experiments date from the early 1960s when
Ohshima and Choe (1961) reared hatchlings for up to 45 days in an open seawater system. Similar rearing experiments were also carried out by regional fisheries
experimental stations. In the 1980s, Tsuchiya (1982) succeeded in rearing S� lessoniana in an open seawater system from hatchlings to maturity in 306 days.
Later, Segawa (1987, 1993) reported the embryonic development and feeding
characteristics of juvenile squid using observations made during rearing experiments. Since then, S� lessoniana has been recognized as an advantageous squid for
aquaculture because this species can survive for long periods in captivity, as can
cuttlefishes. Lee et al. (1994) succeeded in culturing S� lessoniana for three generations in a closed water system and suggested this squid might be used as a model for
neuroscientific and behavioural studies. Advanced trials were carried out by Walsh
et al. (2002) who cultured S� lessoniana for seven generations. Ikeda et al. (2003)
also established culture traits of S� lessoniana in a closed seawater system, with the
goal of using this species to study brain science.
17.2 State of the Art
The life cycle of S� lessoniana can be completed under aquaculture conditions.
Broodstock are either collected from the wild, as they will spawn in captivity, or
cultured from egg capsules collected as a by-product of fishing. This is the initial phase of culture. Hatchlings are fed for up to 30 days on live feed (i.e. mysid
shrimps or shrimp postlarvae), collected from the wild or produced by hatcheries.
Similar facilities and management can be used in both closed and open systems
for the nursing of eggs and the nursing of young squid after hatching. Training the
young to feed on dead feed is the initial and critical period of the ongrowing phase.
A very high growth rate is a hallmark of the aquaculture of this species. Feeding efficiency is high from hatching to maturity. Cultured squid can reach 200 mm length
and 500 g weight in 120 days. Culture of this species in floating net cages and other
in situ facilities can reduce the cost of production. Future studies should focus on
live and artificial feed as well as taking advantage of size dimorphism, including
monosex culture and induction of sex reversion from females into larger males and
differences in the growth rate of different morphs.