Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world. With demand for seafood increasing at astonishing rates, the optimization of production methods is vital. One of the primary restrictions to continued growth is the supply of juveniles from hatcheries. Addressing these constraints, Advances in aquaculture hatchery technology provides a comprehensive, systematic guide to the use of current and emerging technologies in enhancing hatchery production.Part one reviews reproduction and larval rearing. Aquaculture hatchery water supply and treatment systems, principles of finfish broodstock management, genome preservation, and varied aspects of nutrition and feeding are discussed in addition to larval health management and microbial management for bacterial pathogen control. Closing the life-cycle and overcoming challenges in hatchery production for selected invertebrate species are the focus of part two, and advances in hatchery technology for spiny lobsters, shrimp, blue mussel, sea cucumbers and cephalopods are all discussed. Part three concentrates on challenges and successes in closing the life-cycle and hatchery production for selected fish species, including tuna, striped catfish, meagre, and yellowtail kingfish. Finally, part four explores aquaculture hatcheries for conservation and education.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Advances in aquaculture hatchery technology is an authoritative review of the field for hatchery operators, scientists, marine conservators and educators. Provides a comprehensive guide to the use of technologies in enhancing hatchery production Examines reproduction and larval rearing, including genetic improvement and microdiets Discusses challenges in hatchery production of specific species

Microalgae remain an indispensible hatchery food for many aquaculture species, despite some on-going progress in the development of formulated larval feeds. The majority of the microalgae feed production occurs as living cultures on-site within hatcheries. In this review, general characteristics of microalgae are discussed, including chemical profiles, nutritional qualities and methods of mass culture. Key microalgal species are identified that are used as feeds leading to the hatchery production of bivalves, abalone, shrimp and fish. Global demand for microalgae production as hatchery feeds is likely to increase, requiring not only the expansion of existing infrastructure, but technical innovation to develop new production systems that are more intensive and have greater production capacity.

This chapter looks at the issues surrounding health of finfish and shellfish larvae in the aquaculture environment. The chapter will examine issues such as biosecurity to see how it forms the cornerstone of effective hatchery management and how problems can arise when biosecurity fails. Then the chapter looks at how the health of the larvae can be manipulated and how the larvae can be protected from potential pathogens by good management.

In aquaculture production systems, the hatchery phase is the most challenging as larvae are prone to infections and disease from microbial agents causing mass mortalities. A holistic microbial management regime concept is developed with the hatchery managed as a set of compartments: (1) the water column (planktonic); (2) surfaces (biofilm); (3) the larvae themselves; and (4) feeds (live and formulated). Emphasis on the use of the microbial community as a whole to maintain larvae in high health with various prophylactic strategies is discussed. A range of treatment strategies are considered, including antibiotics, bacteriophage therapy, quorum sensing inhibition and microbial predation. Developing innovations and future trends in microbial management and biocontrol are outlined.

The reliance on wild-caught juvenile tuna is seen as the Achilles heel of tuna ranching industries worldwide and it is widely recognised that closed-cycle hatchery production is essential to sustain the demand for tuna and reduce pressure on wild stocks. The many features that make tuna such a unique group of fish also give rise to the many challenges associated with their culture and despite some forty years of effort, commercial scale hatchery production has yet to be fully realised. This chapter summarises the history of closed-cycle tuna production and discusses the recent and significant achievements that have been made towards the achievement of this elusive goal.

The hands-on nature of the hatchery setting is a natural supplement to curriculum units for students of all ages and experience levels. This chapter addresses the benefits of experiential education and provides descriptions of its use for a variety of aquaculture-based learning experiences pertinent to a number of subject areas. Recommendations for implementing such programs are presented for each grade level and discipline. The chapter provides a number of examples and resources to aid the reader in developing or enhancing instruction in the hatchery or classroom.

Global shrimp farming more than tripled production over the last decade. The major driver of that expansion was the introduction, adoption and expansion of farming P. vannamei as the shrimp species of choice. A key element determining farmers’ preference for P. vannamei was widespread availability of High Health post-larvae (PL) produced from specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstock that outperformed other shrimp species in reliability and profitability. Production of High Health PL requires use of SPF broodstock in hatcheries using biosecurity. This chapter reviews key management practices of securing SPF broodstock and biosecurity in P. vannamei shrimp hatchery systems.