Program and Abstracts(PDF)

Satellite symposium 4
SABLEFISH HATCHERY METHODS. AN OVERVIEW OF HATCHERY DESIGN,
BROOD STOCK SPAWNING, AND EGG AND YOLK SAC LARVAE INCUBATION
PROCEDURES AT THE MANCHESTER RESEARCH STATION
Kenneth C Massee 1* , Tom Wade 1 , Mathew Cook 1 , Ken Webb 1 , and Michael Rust 2 .
1
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Manchester Research Station, Port
Orchard, Washington USA.
2
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle Washington USA
* Email: ken.massee at noaa.gov
The sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) is a deep-water finfish species native to the north Pacific.
They range from the Bering Sea, and adjacent waters from Hokkaido, Japan to Baja, California.
Due to its high value and culture potential it has generated great interest as an aquaculture species.
As with many marine fish the major bottleneck in culture is the production of juveniles.
Currently, there are only a couple of commercial hatcheries producing juveniles in the US and
Canada.
In this presentation, an overview of our sablefish hatchery, brood stock spawning and egg and
yolk sac incubation methods are described. The hatchery system utilizes recirculated seawater
and has precise temperature and salinity control. The water is filtered to 1 micron and UV
sterilized before being introduced to the incubators or yolk sac silos.
Ultrasound technology is used to determine brood stock maturation status and timing of ovulation.
Hormone injections are needed to induce final maturation in most cases. Hormones are
administered at an oocyte diameter of 1.2 mm or greater. With the use of ultrasound technology
a biopsy is no longer needed to determine oocyte diameter.
Improvements in egg and yolk sac larval incubation techniques have significantly increased
survival during these stages. Key factors during incubation are maintaining hatchery water
temperatures at 6.0 ± 0.5 degrees Celsius and salinity at 33 ppt ± 0.5 ppt. Additional egg and
yolk sac larval incubation methods are also discussed.
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