HEPCA succeeds in inducing spawning and raising larvae of two Tridacna species
calendar_monthJuly 18, 2017
From Monitoring to Action Exploited species Restoration Program Through our program on restoration of the exploited marine species, HEPCA scientific team with the support of LIFE Red Sea 2 (Project funded by USAID) succeeded to induce the spawning and raising larvae in two species of Tridacna (T. gigas and T. squamosa), for the first time in the middle east. More than 150,000 juveniles of Tridnca of 1-2cm shell length are available in our hatchery. The Tridacna & the sea cucumber are among the most extensively exploited invertebrates in the Egyptian Red Sea due to over and bad fishing practicing. The program objectives include: o Introducing and improving techniques to induce spawning and rearing larvae of the exploited marine species, as the milestone to restore and farm these species. o Restoring exploited species due to over and bad practicing fishing activities o Improving livelihood of the local community with emphasis of the fishermen community by creating income alternatives from green farming of the exploited targeted species o Providing training to raise the capability of the local community to manage and run green farms of the targeted exploited species For this purpose, HEPCA Education and Training Center was provided with all necessary facilities including: wet laboratory of almost 100m3 volume (spawning and rearing tanks of different sizes, mechanical and biological filters, pumps, algal cultivation room with light and controlled temperature) as well as biological and chemical laboratories.
