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Internship Report at Oceano Fresco
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The increasing global demand for sustainable protein sources has positioned aquaculture as a key solution for food security and environmental conservation. This internship at Oceano Fresco focused on the cultivation of the native European clam species Venerupis corrugata and Ruditapes decussatus using innovative aquaculture techniques. The internship involved hands-on participation in hatchery operations, including broodstock handling, spawning, larval rearing, and microalgae cultivation, along with microbiological monitoring and biosecurity measures. Additionally, a research project was conducted to evaluate the impact of different conditioning methods on broodstock gonadal maturation and reproductive success. Results showed that broodstock conditioned in a recirculating system (R) exhibited 43.8% higher egg production, a 15.3 percentage point increase in hatching success, and nearly double the number of viable D-larvae compared to those in a flow-through system (FT). Despite no significant differences in broodstock survival or gonadal maturation rates between treatments, the R system facilitated faster reproductive development and improved larval viability. These findings highlight the potential of optimized conditioning protocols to enhance hatchery efficiency and contribute to the sustainable production of bivalves. Implementing such strategies could increase the availability of broodstock year-round, fostering greater independence from natural reproductive cycles and enabling continuous cultivation throughout the year.
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Aquaculture Sustainability Bivalves Clams Broodstock conditioning