Effects of Hyperoxic Conditions on Growth Performance in Juvenile and Adult Green Sea Urchin,Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The effects of hyperoxic conditions on survival, gonad growth, feed intake, and food conversion of adult and somatic growth and survival of juvenile green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, were examined. Juvenile and adult sea urchins with initial diameters of 11.5 and 75 mm, respectively, were reared in water with constant oxygen saturations of 100 (control), 115 and 130% for 42 d (juvenile) and 51 d (adult sea urchin) at 8 C and 33‰ salinity. During the experiment the gonad indices of the adults tripled from 7.3% (±1.5) to 21.4% (±4.3), 19.4% (±4.7), and 22.0% (±4.4) for the groups kept at 100, 115, and 130% oxygen saturation, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the differences in gonadal size among the groups were not significant. Neither were there any significant differences in food intake or food conversion ratio among the groups. Only one animal died during the experiment. The juvenile sea urchin kept at 100, 115, and 130% oxygen saturation doubled their test diameter from initially 11.5 mm (±1.5) to 19.9 mm (±1.4), 21.4 mm (±2.1) and 20.6 mm (1.0), respectively, but there were no significant differences in growth among these groups. There was no mortality during the experiments in these groups. Overall, the findings suggest that juvenile and adult S. droebachiensis are unable to utilize hypersaturation of oxygen to increase somatic or gonad growth, but can be reared at hyperoxygenated water for prolonged periods of time without harmful effects.     

Antibacterial and hemolytic effects of aqueous and organic extracts from different tissues of sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinometra mathaei</Emphasis> on pathogenic streptococci

In this study, the antibacterial and hemolytic effects of the gonadal tissue, test, spines and Aristotle’s lantern of the sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei) were investigated. The aerobic Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were selected because of their importance in oral diseases. The samples of sea urchin were collected from an intertidal zone in the Persian Gulf and then dissected. Finally, the crude extracts of the gonadal tissue, test, spines and Aristotle’s lantern of the samples were separately prepared by the solvents, including phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 96 % ethanol (Et) and 80 % acetonitrile (ACN). The antibacterial activities of the extracts were evaluated using the well diffusion method in two concentrations of 1500 and 600 µg well^?1. The antibacterial effects against streptococcal species were observed in the organic extracts (Et and ACN) of the gonads and test while the extracts of spines and Aristotle’s lantern showed no antibacterial activity. The hemolytic activity of the PBS, 96 % Et, and 80 % ACN extracts from the sea urchin were evaluated using horse red blood cells. Hemolytic activity was observed only in the 80 % Et and ACN extracts of the gonad and test. In conclusion, the organic extracts of gonadal tissue showed the most inhibitory activity on the growth of S. mutans and S. sobrinus.     

虾夷马粪海胆的海区渡夏、室内中间培育及工厂化养成↑（*）

１９９３年７月～１９９７年５月,在夏季采用网袋、网箱开展虾夷马粪海胆Ｆ２代稚海胆的海区渡夏,壳径日平均生长量比室内提高３３．６％～６１．６％;采用网箱平面培育方法进行Ｆ２代稚海胆室内中间育成和Ｆ３代稚海胆室内中间育成中试,壳径的日平均生长量随时间呈下降趋势,为０．５３×１０－２～１．４６×１０－２ｃｍ／ｄ,体重日平均生长量呈上升趋势,介于２．３２×１０－２～１０．７２×１０－２ｇ／ｄ之间,培养中密度过大会降低海胆的成活率并导致疾病发生;采用立体水槽开展陆地工厂化养成,经１３个月,海胆壳径由１．１６ｃｍ增至５．９８ｃｍ,体重由０．４７ｇ增至６１．０ｇ,性腺指数达１８．０％。     

Agar‐based pellets as feed for sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus): rheological behaviour,digestive enzymes and gonad growth

The algal polysaccharide agar has long been used as a food binder due to its structure, rheological behaviour, stability and interactions – properties that help to generate firm, round, disk‐shaped pellets that may be used in recirculating sea urchin‐rearing systems. Three algae‐based diets (Ulva lactuca, Gracilaria gracilis, Cystoseira sp.) containing 3% and 6% agar were tested on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in order to examine the effect of varying percentages of agar on pellet stability in water and sea urchin gonad growth. The kinetics of water absorption and solute leaching of pellets were measured by immersing quadruplicate samples of the pellets in water for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days. Our results show that the pellets had good water stability, were readily consumed by sea urchins and the presence of agar did not hamper sea urchin gonad growth. Animals fed Ulva‐containing pellets reached a more advanced gametogenic stage with respect to animals fed Cystoseira‐ and Gracilaria‐containing pellets. Moreover, the presence of agarase activity in the digestive system indicated that agar may be an energy source. Pellets are relatively low cost and easy to prepare and store. They may represent a useful resource for rearing sea urchins under intensive conditions.     

Formulated Feed Supports Weight Gain and Survivorship in Juvenile Sea Urchins Lytechinus variegatus

In adult sea urchins, formulated feeds can support both weight gain and gonad production; however, studies demonstrating the effects of formulated feeds on juvenile sea urchin growth are limited. In this study, juvenile sea urchins (test diameter: 3.20–7.33 mm, N = 12 per treatment) were reared individually in artificial seawater and fed with one of four experimental feeds: (1) mixed‐taxa algal biofilm (MTAB), (2) freeze‐dried MTAB, (3) a commercial, small‐mammal feed (Friskies^® cat treats), or (4) a semipurified feed formulated for sea urchins. The MTAB and sea urchin feed supported weight gain and survival throughout the study; however, those individuals fed with the sea urchin feed exhibited a short lag period at the onset of feeding. This short lag period may be, in part, because of an initial lack of attraction of the urchins to the formulated feed. Furthermore, we hypothesize that gut physiology or gut flora must acclimatize to a new diet (all sea urchins were reared initially on the MTAB diet). The freeze‐dried MTAB and mammal feed did not support substantial weight gain. This study suggests that sea urchin juveniles as small as 3–4 mm can utilize formulated feeds for growth.     

紫海胆黄基本营养成分的分析与评价

为了测定紫海胆黄中的营养成分,并对其营养价值进行系统分析及合理评价,采用国家标准的生化测定方法以及美国化学分析方法(AOAC)检测海胆黄中的水分、粗灰分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、总糖、氨基酸、脂肪酸及矿物质。结果显示:海胆黄粉中水分含量(5.29±0.02)%,粗灰分(8.69±0.03)%,粗蛋白质(60.36±0.04)%,粗脂肪(25.32±0.09)%,总糖含量(0.044±0.002)mg/100 g;共检出18种氨基酸,总含量(46.50±0.89)%;谷氨酸含量最高,为(5.57±0.11)%;必须氨基酸占总氨基酸的(37.75±0.01)%;主要的限制氨基酸是色氨酸和亮氨酸;药效氨基酸占氨基酸总量的46.86%;蛋白质氨基酸评分(AAS)0.8,化学评分(CS)0.5;必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)为77.86;共检出30种脂肪酸,EPA(二十碳五烯酸)+DHA(二十二碳六烯酸)含量(2.43±005)%;海胆黄富含钾、磷、钠、镁、铁、锌等矿物质元素;常量元素中,磷元素含量最高,为(1 432.27±8.91)mg/100 g;微量元素中,锌元素含量最高,为(13.13±0.09)mg/100 g。研究表明,海胆黄中蛋白质含量丰富,氨基酸种类多、比例合理,脂质含量高且富含EPA、DHA等多不饱和脂肪酸,矿物质含量丰富。     

The value of sea urchin,Lytechinus variegatus,egesta consumed by shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Sea urchins produce high‐energy, membrane‐bound fecal pellets that contain residual nutrients and large quantities of microbiota. These egesta are readily consumed by the shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Egesta of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, were evaluated as a feed supplement or total replacement for a commercial shrimp diet. Shrimp were stocked at 0.49 g ± 0.06 g initial body weight and housed individually in 2.8‐L tanks in a commercial recirculating zebrafish system. Shrimp were assigned to one of six diets: commercial shrimp feed, reference sea urchin feed, collected dried sea urchin egesta, collected wet sea urchin egesta, half ration of shrimp feed and half collected wet sea urchin egesta, and egesta naturally produced by two sea urchins in polyculture. Equivalent dry matter amounts of each diet were proffered to shrimp in each treatment twice daily, except for those that had complete access to natural egesta excreted by sea urchins in polyculture. Sea urchins were proffered a reference sea urchin feed at 2% body weight daily. After 27 days, shrimp proffered collected dried or wet egesta did not differ significantly in percent weight gain and showed the lowest weight gain. The percent weight gain of shrimp fed the commercial shrimp diet did not differ significantly from that of the shrimp fed half commercial shrimp diet and half egesta. The highest weight gain was recorded for those shrimp that consumed the untouched egesta produced by sea urchins in polyculture. These data suggest that consumed egesta have noteworthy nutritional value and therefore would be beneficial to the culture of extractive species in an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system.     

Effects of dietary arachidonic acid on final maturation,spawning and composition of gonad of black sea urchin Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778)

This study investigated the effect of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6) on final maturation, spawning performance and composition of the gonad of black sea urchin (Diadema setosum). Four different dietary ARA levels of 0.3 g/kg (Control diet), 1.4 g/kg (ARA 1.4), 2.5 g/kg (ARA 2.5) and 3.7 g/kg (ARA 3.7) were prepared and tested in this feeding trial for 90 days. The result showed that growth in terms of weight was not relatively affected by dietary ARA. Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) of animals were gradually increased in all the diets throughout the trial. The highest GSI level (25.7 ± 3.16%) was observed in animals fed with the diet ARA 1.4. ARA content in the gonad proportionally increased with dietary ARA levels. The highest larval survival rate (85.5 ± 5.67%) was found in diet ARA 2.5. The results of this study indicate that ARA plays an important role in the reproduction functions of black sea urchin and supplementing an appropriate level of ARA in the broodstock diet could induce the final maturation and improve reproduction of black sea urchin, but a higher level of ARA (3.7 g/kg) seems to have a negative effect on both growth rate and GSI.     

Phenology of the kelp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharina japonica</Emphasis> and its effect on the gonad index of the sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mesocentrotus nudus</Emphasis> across a depth gradient off the Sanriku coast,northeastern Japan

The kelp Saccharina japonica is a dominant seaweed along the Sanriku coast where fisheries for sea urchin and abalone are among the most prosperous in Japan. We investigated the phenology of the kelp at depths of 6, 9 and 12 m from March 2015 to March 2016. The sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus, a dominant herbivore off the coast, was also monitored with respect to its gonads for fishery use. Juvenile kelp appeared in March and rapidly elongated until May. Weight of the kelp significantly increased from April to July. Sori formation commenced from September and ceased in December. Density and biomass of the kelp were higher in the shallower sites than in the deeper one throughout the year. The highest biomasses recorded between July and October were 3773, 1939 and 501 g dry weight m^?2 at depths of 6, 9 and 12 m, respectively. No regrowth of kelp blades was observed, indicating that S. japonica in this region has an annual life cycle. The gonad index of the sea urchin in the 12-m site was lower than that in the 6- and 9-m sites, indicating the close relation of the gonad index with the biomass of the kelp.     

Effect of different feed formulations on feed efficiency, gonad yield and gonad quality in the purple sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma

The nutritive values of three pelleted prepared diets, based on animal (AP), vegetable (VP) and yeast protein (YP) were studied for the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Val.). Fresh macroalga Ulva australis was used as a natural control diet. Triplicate groups of five animals were fed one of the four diets ad libitum every second day for 85 days. Sea urchins fed pelleted feeds had significantly higher food consumption rates (dry basis) and significantly lower total and protein absorption efficiencies compared with the algal diet. The gonad yield and gonad production efficiency in sea urchins fed the natural diet were significantly higher compared with initial group (gonad yield only) and urchins fed animal and vegetable diets, but did not differ significantly from those of the animals fed the yeast diet. Percent protein and lipid in the gonads were not affected by the dietary source. The taste and smell of gonads were generally better in sea urchins collected from the wild or fed yeast and natural diets than in sea urchins fed animal and vegetable diets. The animal protein diet was the most stable in seawater while the yeast protein diet had the poorest water stability. The results of this study suggest that development of a more stable, single‐cell, protein‐based diet has a potential to promote gonad production of H. erythrogramma.     

温度和藻类饵料对虾夷马粪海胆摄食及生长的影响

对虾夷马粪海胆石在１０．０－２５．０℃水温下单独投喂海带,裙带菜、石莼及１５．４－１７．８℃混合投喂海带、裙带菜、石莼、铜藻、角叉菜的不同组合和２１．６－２７．４℃饥饿状态下的摄食、生长及成活进行了试验研究。海胆体重与壳直径的关系为Ｇ＝０．４３１３２Ｄ＾２．９９５８。海胆对海带、裙采、石莼的日摄食率依次降低且随水温变化而异。１．０－３．６ｃｍ的纪海胆在１０．０－２５．０℃下摄食上述海藻均可保持较快     

水温和藻类对马粪海胆摄食、呼吸及排氨率的影响

在水温10.1℃,将初始体质量为(0.55±0.16)g的马粪海胆幼胆,随机放入0.3 m×0.4 m×0.5 m的白色塑料桶中,每桶100个,过量投喂新鲜孔石莼、粘膜藻、肠浒苔、裙带菜和珠状硬毛藻,计算各种藻类的摄食量(以干质量计),研究马粪海胆对藻类的摄食选择性。再将初始体质量为(0.67±0.32)g的马粪海胆置于水温为10.1、15.6、20.3℃的容器中,投喂相同的5种藻类2 d后,挑选10个规格相似个体放入1 L锥形瓶中,适应0.5 h后密封测定耗氧率和排氨率,研究不同温度和藻类饵料下马粪海胆的耗氧率和排氨率。试验结果表明,马粪海胆的摄食选择率依次为裙带菜>粘膜藻>孔石莼>肠浒苔>珠状硬毛藻,马粪海胆明显偏好裙带菜;马粪海胆摄食量受温度及藻类种类影响显著(P<0.05),在15.6℃时,日相对摄食率最大,摄食裙带菜的组别显著大于其他组别(P<0.05),摄食珠状硬毛藻的组日相对摄食率最低;各组别马粪海胆耗氧率均随着水温的升高而增大,相同温度条件下,孔石莼组耗氧率最大;各组排氨率随着水温的升高呈现先增大后减小,15.6℃时最大。研究结果将为开展马粪海胆生态增养殖、构建刺参池塘绿色综合养殖模式提供参考。     

Age distribution of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus (A. Agassiz) in relation to algal zonation in a rocky coastal area on Oshika Peninsula, northern Japan

ABSTRACT: The age distribution of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus in relation to algal zonation was studied in a sublittoral rocky area on Oshika Peninsula, northern Japan, from June 1995 through to August 1996. The algal zonation observed there extends from a shallow area of cobbles to deeper areas dominated successively by Sargassum yezoense , Eisenia bicyclis and, finally, crustose coralline red algae. One-year-old sea urchins occurred only on the cobbles and crustose corallines in contrast to the presence of 2-year-old individuals from all areas and the restricted distribution of individuals aged 3 years and over to Eisenia and crustose corallines. Calculated mean body sizes in the Eisenia area became larger after the age of 2 years compared with those in the area of crustose corallines. Spawning was ascertained histologically in both the Eisenia and crustose coralline areas, although gonad indices were higher in the former area than in the latter throughout the year. Gut contents were dominated by E. bicyclis in the Eisenia area, and by crustose coralline red algae and small algae in the crustose coralline area. Thus, the sea urchin may settle most abundantly on crustose corallines and lives there for 1–2 years. Thereafter, they expand their habitat toward the Eisenia area, where there is richer sources of food for attaining a higher growth rate and to generate heavier gonads.     

不同性别马粪海胆壳形态性状对体质量的影响效果分析

选取大连塔河湾海域马粪海胆260枚,鉴定性别后测量了壳高(L2)、壳径(L1)和体质量(m)等经济性状,采用相关分析和通径分析方法,定量地分析了不同性别马粪海胆壳形态性状与体质量的相关关系。结果表明,塔河湾海域马粪海胆雌雄比例为1∶1,在壳性状、体质量等经济性状和高径比等生物学性状上雌雄差异不显著(P0.05)。雌雄海胆经济性状间的相关系数均较高,其中壳径与体质量的相关系数均为最大(雌雄分别为0.960和0.956)。通径分析表明,雌雄马粪海胆壳径对体质量的直接影响(雌雄分别为0.723和0.645)均大于壳高(雌雄分别为0.280和0.362),雌雄马粪海胆壳形态性状对体质量有较为一致的影响效果。雄性马粪海胆体质量预测模型为m=1.78L1+1.32L2-75.78(r2=0.948),雌性马粪海胆体质量预测模型为m=2.17L1+1.13L2-89.05(r2=0.944),不分性别马粪海胆体质量预测模型为m=1.96L1+1.22L2-81.72(r2=0.944)。     

Banana peel provides a new insight into improving gonad flavor in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

To our knowledge, little information is available on approaches to improving gonad flavor of sea urchins. Although sea urchins fed high content of glutamate and glycine perceived sweeter gonads than those fed high content of valine and methionine (Phillips et al. in Aquaculture 288:205–215, 2009), the problem of improving gonad quality has not been completely solved. Because of the high cost of glutamate and glycine, it is hard to move this finding from the laboratory to gonad production. In the present study, we found that gonad flavor of Strongylocentrotus intermedius fed banana peel was significantly better than that of individuals fed kelp or pumpkin (P < 0.001). However, banana peel did not significantly support gonad yield of sea urchins compared with kelp (P < 0.05). This novel finding provides a new insight into the gonad quality improvement in sea urchins. Further studies should be carried out to test our two suggested methods of banana peel application in sea urchin aquaculture.     

Differences in free amino acid composition between testis and ovary of sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocidaris crassispina</Emphasis> during gonadal development

ABSTRACT:   For the purpose of clarifying the differences of taste components between the testis and ovary of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina , variations in free amino acid composition in gonadal extract during gonadal development were investigated using chemical and histopathological methods. Sea urchins were collected at Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan between 30 April and 5 June 2003, and maturation stages and the free amino acid compositions were determined. The sweet amino acids threonine (Thr), glycine (Gly), and alanine (Ala), the umami amino acid glutamic acid (Glu), and the bitter amino acids lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) were the main constituents accounting for more than 80% of total free amino acids. In the testis and ovary, Gly levels were the highest among them and increased with gonadal development. The other free amino acids consisted mainly of bitter amino acids and either showed no variation or decreased with gonadal development. These variations in free amino acid composition were observed more clearly in the ovary than the testis. These findings indicate the possibility of differences in the flavor of sea urchin gonad by sex and gonadal development stages.     

Effects of protein and carbohydrate levels on survival,consumption and gonad index in adult sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Stimpson 1857) from Baja California,Mexico

A greater understanding of dietary protein and carbohydrate levels with regard to gonad production in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus would increase our nutritional knowledge of this sea urchin and guide the development of formulated diets for such aquaculture target species. A total of 255 purple sea urchins were captured from Ensenada Bay, Mexico, and maintained in 200‐L tanks for 9 weeks. Formulated diets that contained 30%, 26%, 23%, 20% and 17% of protein and 42%, 46%, 50%, 54% and 58% carbohydrates were offered ad libitum. Survival was affected by diets; urchins that were fed high‐protein–low‐carbohydrate diet experienced decreased survival. No significant differences were found in gonad index, but gonad production efficiency was lower in urchins that were fed a medium‐low‐protein–medium‐high‐carbohydrate diet. Urchins that were fed high carbohydrate levels utilized protein more efficiently and showed better digestibility of the diet and protein. These data suggest that all of our diets support gonad growth, but in terms of consumption, a diet that contains protein levels of 17% and 23% with carbohydrate levels of 50% and 58% are beneficial for S. purpuratus.     

Long‐term Growth Study of Male and Female Green Sea Urchins,Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis,under Constant Light and Temperature Regime

Juvenile green sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, with an initial mean test diameter of 9.5 mm (±1.2 SD) were held in the laboratory, in individual compartments and at constant temperatures (8.5 C) (n = 90) for a period of 99 wk. The animals were supplied with flow‐through sea water, and fed the Nofima sea urchin manufactured feed ad libitum. Growth, survival, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and gonad index (GI) of the sea urchins were monitored during this period. The mortality was 11% throughout the experimental period. The test diameter (TD) increased significantly with time, best described by a polynomial equation (TD = 0.8756 + 0.584Time − 0.002Time², R² = 0.995). Sex was included as dummy variable, but did not contribute significantly; hence, there were no differences in growth trajectories between males and females. The study showed there were no significant differences in body wet weight or FCR between males and females. However at the end of the experiment the female urchins had a significantly higher GI of 31.1% (±4.4), compared with the male urchins which had an average GI of 26.8% (±5.4). In conclusion, the present study showed that male and female green sea urchins have the same growth capacity and feed convention ratio but by the end of the experiment the gonad index was significantly higher in female than male urchins.     

The effect of fresh seaweed and a formulated diet supplemented with seaweed on the growth and gonad quality of the collector sea urchin,Tripneustes gratilla,under farm conditions

This gonad enhancement study investigates the effect of different fresh and formulated feeds and feeding regimes on the growth and gonad quality of wild‐collected adult sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla, under farm conditions for over 18 weeks. In the first 12 weeks (phase 1), urchins were fed fresh Ulva rigida (U); a 50:50 mixture of fresh U. rigida and Gracilaria gracilis (UG); fresh G. gracilis (G) and a formulated diet 20U (containing 20% U. rigida), and in the final 6 weeks (phase 2) of the study, diet was changed to a formulated feed (20U diet). By the end of phase 1, urchins fed the 20U diet produced gonads (50.72 ± 5.4 g) that were significantly heavier (p < .001) than the gonads of urchins fed the fresh seaweed diets (U, UG & G). By the end of phase 2, gonad weight of urchins in treatment groups UG‐20U and G‐20U were similar to those fed the 20U‐20U diet. Gonad colour of urchins in the G‐20U treatment became significantly lighter (ANOVA, p = .029) and poorer quality, compared with urchins in the U‐20U group. This gonad enhancement study, conducted on wild‐collected adult T. gratilla, has shown that a formulated feed (20U diet) can enhance gonad growth and produce commercially acceptable gonads. This farm‐based study supports previous findings from aquarium‐based studies by our group and indicates that short‐term sea urchin gonad enhancement can be carried out under farm conditions in South Africa.     

The effects of tank system,water velocity and water movement on survival,somatic and gonad growth of juvenile and adult green sea urchin,Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The effects of water velocity and tipping frequency (water movement) on survival, somatic and gonad growth of juvenile and adult green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis were investigated. Juvenile and adult urchins were held in ‘laminar’ or ‘tipper’ tanks. Both were supplied with three inlet water flows (1.5, 3.0 and 7.5 L min^?1) which converted to water velocities of 0.28, 0.57 and 1.43 cm s^?1 in the ‘laminar’ tanks and tipping frequencies of 30, 10 and 5 s in the ‘tipper’ tanks. Juvenile sea urchins had significantly lower mortality and greater somatic growth when held in ‘laminar’ flow tanks compared with ‘tipper’ tanks. The varying water velocities tested in the ‘laminar’ flow treatment had no effect on the growth of juvenile sea urchins. The juvenile sea urchins in the ‘tipping’ treatment held at high tipping frequency had significantly slower growth than those in the medium and low tipping frequency treatments. There were no differences in mortality or gonad growth in the adult sea urchins regardless of treatment. The ‘laminar’ flow tanks retained significantly more organic material compared with the ‘tipper’ tanks. The authors discuss the effects of water velocity and tipping frequencies in system design for aquaculture of sea urchins.