Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus: Synonyms: Turbo (Fr.), Rodaballo (Sp.), Kalkan (Scophthalmus meoticus, Tur.).

A wonderful fish with excellent market potential. The availability of Turbot is limited only because of the high level of technology needed for its production. Developing turbot production protocols was, for me, an in-depth hands on experience in creating processes in which the microbiological environment of the larvae was as important as the feeding, temperature and nutrition. The experience from my work on Turbot has provided me with a solid background in evaluating and implementing bio-security procedures and avenues for introducing probiotics into the production methodology.  This evolutionary process created, amongst others, the dual pipe systems, the “all in all out” production protocols, managing bacterial inputs through interventions at the live food level and producing fish without the need to resort to antibiotics.

Turbot Broodstock can be conditioned to spawn year round but eggs can only be obtained through hand stripping. Larval rearing is complicated due to specific nutritional requirements which at metamorphosis affect pigmentation and eye migration. Correct application of the methodology overcomes these production bottlenecks delivering high quality juveniles to the ongrowing farms.