Evaluation of transportation methods of juveniles of the Australasian sea cucumber, Australostichopus mollis

Abstract

The transport of juvenile sea cucumbers to grow-out sites is problematic as they are prone to damage and mortality. The response of juvenile Australostichopus mollis to simulated transport conditions with and without seawater for different periods of time (2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h) at different temperatures was evaluated in this study. Sea cucumbers were placed in plastic bags with seawater or wrapped in a seawater-soaked cloth. Monitoring of evisceration, skin lesions, feeding activity and survival was used to evaluate the success of transportation. The juveniles of this species can withstand being without seawater for up to 8 h with no consequences to their survival and feeding activity. Complete immersion of the juveniles in seawater was found to be the only option for transportation over longer periods, but preventive measures should be taken to avoid detrimental levels of temperature, oxygen and pH. Overall, the existing constraints to moving juvenile sea cucumbers to grow-out sites can be overcome through preventing desiccation during short-term transport without seawater, and by the control of temperature for long-term transportation with seawater. The results suggest that in juvenile sea cucumbers, feeding activity and the presence of skin lesions are more sensitive indicators of the success of transport than evisceration and survival.