Mediterranean sea bream, Sparus aurata: Synonyms: Gilthead sea bream, Dorada (Sp.), Daurade (Fr.), Tzipura (Gr. Turk.), Denis (Isr. Middle East)
This highly appreciated fish was the first challenge for the emerging Mediterranean aquaculture sector in the ’80’s. Due to intense industry and public sector input it has turned into a success story resulting the yearly output of hundreds of millions of fish from scores of hatcheries. The Sea Bream requires rotifers to start feed followed by Artemia, at which point co-feeding with dry diets is initiated. Fully weaned juveniles are obtained one month after hatching, following which a nursery stage is required to bring the fish up from 0.5g to 5-10g. Careful attention to ambient light conditions, water quality and diets reduce the appearance of deformities. Frequent grading in the nursery takes care of cannibalistic tendencies that arise in the early nursery stage. Many of the hatcheries operating these days were built in the ’90’s and need modernization for reducing operating cost and increasing efficiencies and productivity.
Methodology for Sparus aurata can be adapted and applied to a number of other Sparid species such as: Dentex; Snapper, Pargo.
