On Friday, 24th October, the SFA Aquaculture Research Team reached an important milestone by successfully inducing spawning in Sandfish (Holothuria scabra) at the Containerised Echinoderm Hatchery in Providence.
A total of 21 adult sandfish were collected as broodstock and kept in tanks for 24 hours to allow for defecation before the spawning trials began. Sandfish are known to be a bit difficult to spawn, so the team carefully tested different ways to induce gamete release.
On the first day, the sandfish were exposed to slightly warm water and a Spirulina feeding treatment, but this initial attempt did not trigger spawning. The following day, the team divided the sandfish into two groups to try different approaches. Batch 1 was gently exposed to short periods of air drying and water spray, while Batch 2 experienced a cold-water bath combined with Spirulina feeding. This second approach proved successful: three males and one female from Batch 2 spawned. The newly spawned larvae are now being fed a mixed microalgae diet, with their growth and health carefully monitored by the research team.
The success highlights the value of persistence and careful scientific experimentation, showing how trial and error can lead to important breakthroughs.
Though still an early step, this achievement brings SFA closer to advancing sustainable aquaculture practices for sea cucumber production in Seychelles, especially as it represents the first time this has been accomplished in the country.
Adding eggs to larval rearing tank
Sandfish Broodstock
Egg collection