Japanese Institute Develops Continuous S Type Rotifer Culture System with No Environmental Stress

Copyright Fisheries Research Agency

Japan's Fisheries Research Agency (FRA), an incorporated administrative agency, announced on May 28, 2012, that it has succeeded in developing a closed recirculating, continuous culture system for the rotifer that has no environmental stress and reduces production costs.

Mass culture of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis sp.complex (a rotifer that tolerates a wide range of salinity), which is indispensable as live food organisms for the production of larval sea fish, produces wastewater containing organic matter such as excrement and rotifer remains. Thus, a wastewater treatment system and related maintenance expenses are unavoidable. As a result, the FRA has developed a closed, continuous culture system for rotifers, in which a recycling system for wastewater is integrated, and the long-term, stable production of high-quality rotifers is now possible.

In its tests, the FRA successfully maintained continuous culture for 30 days without introducing fresh seawater. Stable production of 4 billion organisms per day has been realized, and this is able to feed about 0.4 million flatfish. As compared with conventional culture systems, the new rotifer culture system will eliminate 20,000 to 120,000 liters of wastewater, resulting in reduced costs and environmental burden.

Posted: 2012/09/01 06:00:15 AM

TAG Material reduction , Technology , University/Research institute