Aquaculture of green sea urchin in the Barents Sea: a brief review of Russian studies

Gonads of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) containing valuable carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids and sulphated fucans are in great demand from the expanding market. In Russian waters of the Barents Sea, only a few sites are suitable for commercial harvesting and thus the development of green sea urchin farming in this region. Our review presents a short survey of Russian literature on biological aspects and rearing methods of green sea urchins in the Barents Sea. In the 1980s, spawning induction and larval culture experiments were undertaken to obtain larvae ofS. droebachiensis. Later studies were undertaken to test optimal rations and conditions for gonad enhancement of adult sea urchins in sea cages and closed systems. Gonadal growth was higher and faster in sea urchins reared under controlled conditions in closed water circulation tanks compared with sea cages. Regular feeding of cultured animals provided them better gonadal growth than in wild sea urchins irrespective of food items. Algal diets showed a lower level of gonad yield compared with mixed diets (algae + squid, algae + fish), fish diets and prepared diets (artificial feed based on fish skin). The coast of the Kola Peninsula has a good potential for the development of the green sea urchin farming but several financial, socio-economic, logistic and management problems must be solved before this process starts.