The study, the result of the doctoral thesis entitled "Sustainable Trade in Marine Ornamental Fish: Innovative Aquaculture Practices for Public Aquariums," recently defended at the ULPGC University Institute, presents key advances for establishing a responsible trade in marine ornamental fish, such as the development of a pioneering egg collection device, among other initiatives.
Research from the ECOAQUA University Institute, part of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), provides innovative solutions in the field of aquaculture applicable to public aquariums around the world, presenting key advances for establishing a responsible trade in marine ornamental fish, such as the development of a pioneering egg collection tool for pelagic species that optimizes large-scale breeding programs in a more sustainable manner.
The study, the result of a university thesis recently presented at ECOAQUA, is entitled ‘Sustainable Trade in Marine Ornamental Fish: Innovative Aquaculture Practices for Public Aquariums’, and is the work of researcher Andrea Martino, an aquarist at the Genoa Aquarium (Italy). It is directed by university doctors Daniel Montero, a member of the Aquaculture Research Group (GIA) at the university institute, and Francisco Otero-Ferrer, a member of the Biodiversity and Conservation Group (BIOCON), also from ECOAQUA.
Researcher Andrea Martino, with the thesis supervisors, university doctors Daniel Montero, on the left of the image, and Francisco Otero-Ferrer, on the right of the photograph.
The thesis, developed within the framework of the doctoral program "Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (ACUISEMAR)" at the ULPGC Doctoral School, achieved the highest grade, outstanding cum laude, along with international and industrial mention, recognizing both the scientific excellence and the applicability of the results in the sector.
Faced with a global market valued in millions of euros and threatened by overexploitation and indiscriminate capture methods, barely 10% of ornamental species are bred in controlled systems. This figure highlights the urgent need to increase the production of aquarium species under standardized conditions that guarantee animal welfare and reduce fishing pressure on these species in countries, many of them developing.
Pioneering Tool
This thesis has achieved several innovative objectives for ornamental aquaristics facilities by developing an egg collection device, a pioneering tool that maximizes the yield of viable eggs from pelagic species in large-volume aquaria, optimizing large-scale breeding programs in a more sustainable manner, and which has led to a pending patent.
This research has also described the reproductive biology of Pseudochromis fridmani, commonly known as Fridman's dwarf perch or orchid castanet, a highly valuable fish species for aquaristics.
Image of a Pseudochromis fridmani specimen. Photo taken by researcher Andrea Martino.
The study reveals in detail pair formation, spawning, and optimal breeding temperatures, which has reduced cannibalism and increased both the fertility and well-being of this species in aquariums.
Finally, the research has also achieved significant advances in feeding the larvae of this species with live food enriched with microalgae through the use of copepods of the species Acartia tonsa, rich in LC-PUFA fatty acids, compared to traditional methods, to enhance larval growth and survival.
Researcher Andrea Martino during his thesis defense at ECOAQUA facilities.
The thesis highlights the key role of public aquariums not only as exhibition centers, but also as research laboratories, environmental education centers, and true drivers of marine conservation.
This approach paves the way for more ethical, profitable, and biodiversity-friendly trade. With this research, the ULPGC reinforces its commitment to marine sustainability and technology transfer to aquariums and research centers around the world.