452
F. J. Sánchez et al.
100,000–500,000 eggs (Mangold 1983; Iglesias et al. 2000); rapid growth, exceeding 16–26 g day
−1
(Mangold 1983; Aguado-Giménez and García García 2002); high
protein content, representing 70–90 % of its body weight (BW) as dry matter (Lee
1994); and high feed conversion factor, incorporating 30–60 % of ingested food into
its own body mass (Mangold and Boletzky 1973; Mangold 1983; Aguado-Giménez
and García García 2002).
In Spain, the country where most research is being carried out on rearing of O�
vulgaris, interest arose primarily from the results obtained in studies of its culture in
captivity by Villanueva (1995), Rama-Villar et al. (1997) and Iglesias et al. (2000).
From 1996 onwards, a few private companies started the small-scale production
of octopus, with varying results, which, however, were sufficiently promising to
suggest the great potential of this species for commercial culture. At the same time,
several research groups, some in conjunction with the above companies, began research into octopus ongrowing in floating sea cages moored in areas with flat water
conditions (inside harbours or estuaries; Rama-Villar et al. 1997; Luaces Canosa
and Rey Méndez 1999; Tuñón et al. 2001, 2002; Chapela et al. 2006; Rodríguez
et al. 2006; Oltra et al. 2005; Socorro et al. 2005; Iglesias et al 2007), in benthic
cages (Estefanell et al. 2012a) and also in offshore conditions (García García et al.
2009). The results suggested that there were several parameters that could optimise
production and identified some factors of interest for developing these types of
facilities.
Specific studies of feeding and nutrition of octopus (Cagnetta and Sublimi
2000; García García and Aguado Giménez 2002; García García and Cerezo
Valverde 2006; Domingues et al. 2009a; Prato et al. 2010), their physiology
(Caruso et al. 2004; Cerezo Valverde and García García 2004, 2005; Katsanevakis
et al. 2005; Petza et al. 2006; Sieiro et al. 2006; Mazón et al. 2007; García-Garrido
et al. 2010a, b; García García et al. 2011; Morillo-Velarde et al. 2011) and the
influence of a variety of factors on growth and survival (Aguado Giménez and
García García 2002; Miliou et al. 2005; Domingues et al. 2010; Delgado et al.
2011) have also been considered and these factors have contributed to the identification of the optimal conditions for the production of this species in intensive
cultures.
24.2 Environmental Parameters
24.2.1 Salinity
In general, cephalopods are stenohaline species that live in a salinity range of
27–38 psu (Boletzky and Hanlon 1983). In an ongrowing experiment conducted in
sea cages in the Galician Rías, Chapela et al. (2006) recorded substantial mortality
when salinity fell below 32 psu, as a result of run-off from the land following heavy
F. J. Sánchez et al.
100,000–500,000 eggs (Mangold 1983; Iglesias et al. 2000); rapid growth, exceeding 16–26 g day
−1
(Mangold 1983; Aguado-Giménez and García García 2002); high
protein content, representing 70–90 % of its body weight (BW) as dry matter (Lee
1994); and high feed conversion factor, incorporating 30–60 % of ingested food into
its own body mass (Mangold and Boletzky 1973; Mangold 1983; Aguado-Giménez
and García García 2002).
In Spain, the country where most research is being carried out on rearing of O�
vulgaris, interest arose primarily from the results obtained in studies of its culture in
captivity by Villanueva (1995), Rama-Villar et al. (1997) and Iglesias et al. (2000).
From 1996 onwards, a few private companies started the small-scale production
of octopus, with varying results, which, however, were sufficiently promising to
suggest the great potential of this species for commercial culture. At the same time,
several research groups, some in conjunction with the above companies, began research into octopus ongrowing in floating sea cages moored in areas with flat water
conditions (inside harbours or estuaries; Rama-Villar et al. 1997; Luaces Canosa
and Rey Méndez 1999; Tuñón et al. 2001, 2002; Chapela et al. 2006; Rodríguez
et al. 2006; Oltra et al. 2005; Socorro et al. 2005; Iglesias et al 2007), in benthic
cages (Estefanell et al. 2012a) and also in offshore conditions (García García et al.
2009). The results suggested that there were several parameters that could optimise
production and identified some factors of interest for developing these types of
facilities.
Specific studies of feeding and nutrition of octopus (Cagnetta and Sublimi
2000; García García and Aguado Giménez 2002; García García and Cerezo
Valverde 2006; Domingues et al. 2009a; Prato et al. 2010), their physiology
(Caruso et al. 2004; Cerezo Valverde and García García 2004, 2005; Katsanevakis
et al. 2005; Petza et al. 2006; Sieiro et al. 2006; Mazón et al. 2007; García-Garrido
et al. 2010a, b; García García et al. 2011; Morillo-Velarde et al. 2011) and the
influence of a variety of factors on growth and survival (Aguado Giménez and
García García 2002; Miliou et al. 2005; Domingues et al. 2010; Delgado et al.
2011) have also been considered and these factors have contributed to the identification of the optimal conditions for the production of this species in intensive
cultures.
24.2 Environmental Parameters
24.2.1 Salinity
In general, cephalopods are stenohaline species that live in a salinity range of
27–38 psu (Boletzky and Hanlon 1983). In an ongrowing experiment conducted in
sea cages in the Galician Rías, Chapela et al. (2006) recorded substantial mortality
when salinity fell below 32 psu, as a result of run-off from the land following heavy