Abstract
In Japan, the boiled stipes of wakame, Undaria pinnatifida, cultured are normally dumped in large quantity. To evaluate the value of boiled stipes as food for the ezo abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, we studied the growth of juveniles and adults fed the boiled stipes compared with fresh blades, stipes, or sporophylls of wakame or konbu in a rearing experiment. The juveniles fed boiled stipes grew well, followed by those fed fresh blades, because boiled stipes were most abundantly eaten, although the carbohydrate and crude protein contents were less in the boiled stipes than in the other parts. Boiled stipes were abundantly taken by the adults, while no gonadal enhancement of them was found. These results strongly support the utilization of stipes as food for the juvenile abalone cultured until reseeding to the field or in aquaculture.
