The production of cultured limpets is a recent research field contributing to aquaculture diversification, focusing on low trophic species while reducing the carbon footprint. Limpets are gastropods that colonize rocky substrates and are mostly present on tidal and subtidal shores. This animal group is in high commercial demand and is endangered in several regions. The aquaculture production of limpets has been traditionally challenging. The most successful reproduction method has been gonadal dissection, as artificial spawning induction has shown limited success to date. Moreover, methods for larval culture, settlement, and juvenile growth have been poorly developed and remain largely unknown. In recent years, advances in this field have led to the optimization of methods to enhance larval production, larval culture, settlement induction of competent larvae, and management of post-larvae and juveniles. The present manuscript reviews these advances, obtained within the framework of AQUAINVERT project, focusing on broodstock management, gametes release, larval production, larviculture, settlement, and grow-out of post-larvae, and providing an update on the actual state of the art in limpets’ aquaculture.
Patella aspera is a valuable limpet species native from the Macaronesian Region, which commercial exploitation is regulated due to overfishing. Aquaculture production of the species has the potential to be a sustainable alternative to the exploitation of this natural resource. This is the first study of the larval production of P. aspera with oocytes obtained from dissected gonads and artificially matured using NaOH‐alkalinized seawater. An artificial maturation experiment obtained the higher ratio of matured oocytes employing alkalinized seawater at pH 9.0 and 9.5 from 3 to 5 h. In vitro experiments combined similar artificial maturation conditions: pH 9 and 9.5 (plus pH 8 as control) during 1:30, 3:00 and 4:00 h; with three fertilization times (1:30, 3:00 and 24:00 h) to determine the combination of factors leading to higher larval production. Results show increased larval production, ranging from 50% to 75% total fertilized oocytes, using alkalinized baths at pH 9 from 3 to 4 h, followed by 24 h fertilization time at 19 ± 1°C. The present methodology ensures the production of P. aspera larvae, a mandatory step for further studies focused on the larviculture and aquaculture production of this limpet species.
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