Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Evaluation of 3 Tagging Methods in Marking Sea Urchin,Paracentrotuslividus, Populations under Both Laboratory and Field Conditions

Cipriano A, Burnell G, Culloty S and Long S

The purple sea urchin, "Paracentrotuslividus" is an Atlanto-Mediterranean species that is of commercial interest for its gonads (or roe) in Europe and Pacific/Asian countries. Individual identification of sea urchins is difficult due to the presence of spines and the structure of the skeletal-like test. However, a successful tagging technique is important for monitoring growth rate and survival of marked individuals in the laboratory and in the field. In addition, tagging can denote ownership, help in brood stock management, and allow for the tracking of animals in the market chain and laboratory experiments. In this study, smaller than previously reported passive integrated. Transponder (PIT) tags and two external methods (fingernail polish and beads glued to the spines) were tested on "P. lividus" individuals to assess tagging capability, survival, and host response (e.g. lysozyme activity, nitric oxide levels, and cell viability). Additionally, PIT tagged individuals were released in an intertidal rock pool and monitored in order to test field application. Of the three different tagging methodologies, PIT tags were found to be the most successful in both studies carried out in the laboratory in regards to survival and tag retention. In the field, PIT tagged individuals were released and recaptured successfully. Furthermore, host response to individual tagging showed that the individuals were challenged by the sampling methodology which caused increased mortality.