The potential for utilizing fouling macroalgae as feed for abalone Haliotis discus hannai

In order to assess the potential of utilizing fouling macroalgae as feed for abalone Haliotis discus hannai, the species, biomass and total stock of fouling macroalgae attached on the aquaculture facility-lines were investigated and assessed at Sungo Bay, China, in August 2007. The nutritional value of four fouling macroalgae (Codium fragile, Sargassum muticum, Ulva pertusa and Laminaria japonica) and one cultured macroalgae (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) as the diet of abalone was assessed by analysis of the chemical composition of the macroalgae and by measuring bioavailability and digestibility to abalone H. discus hannai under laboratory conditions in August 2007. The results showed that the biomass of fouling macroalgae at the two sites was 243.61 +/- 26.23 and 1078.15 +/- 50.28 gm(-1) respectively. The contents of protein of G. lemaneiformis and C. fragile were 18.30% and 17.60%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the others. The five macroalgae were accepted by the abalone, and growth energies (P) and growth efficiency (%) were positive. However, significant differences were found among the different macroalgae. The growth efficiencies of abalone show a negative relationship with the levels of dietary lipid and a positive relationship with the protein contents. These results suggest that fouling macroalgae have a great potential to be used as diets of abalone.