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Sponge‐fishing, disease and farming in the Mediterranean Sea

Sponge‐fishing, disease and farming in the Mediterranean Sea 1. Some Mediterranean sponge species belonging to the genera Spongia and Hippospongia, have been harvested for commercial purposes since ancient times. Recently, a widespread epidemic has greatly reduced the density of sponge populations which has had serious repercussions in the commercial field. 2. The synergetic action of harvesting and disease has taken a number of populations to the brink of extinction. Sponge‐population densities are steadily decreasing and their recovery after the disease event is incomplete and has taken a long time. 3. There is a simple solution to the problem: sponge‐farming. Trials have been underway since the beginning of the century and recently, Cuba, the Philippines and Micronesia Islands have started commercial sponge‐farming. 4. Sponges are naturally able to remove dissolved organic matter, organic particles and bacteria from the water‐column and this ability could be exploited in an integrated mariculture system. Floating cages for fish production result in the release of a lot of organic wastes that can be used as a source of food for surrounding intensive commercial sponge communities. Such an integrated system could result in effective eutrophication control, commercial sponge production and a consequent reduction of fishing effort on already heavily‐stressed natural sponge populations. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems Wiley

Sponge‐fishing, disease and farming in the Mediterranean Sea

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References (49)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN
1052-7613
eISSN
1099-0755
DOI
10.1002/(SICI)1099-0755(199909/10)9:5<485::AID-AQC362>3.0.CO;2-N
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

1. Some Mediterranean sponge species belonging to the genera Spongia and Hippospongia, have been harvested for commercial purposes since ancient times. Recently, a widespread epidemic has greatly reduced the density of sponge populations which has had serious repercussions in the commercial field. 2. The synergetic action of harvesting and disease has taken a number of populations to the brink of extinction. Sponge‐population densities are steadily decreasing and their recovery after the disease event is incomplete and has taken a long time. 3. There is a simple solution to the problem: sponge‐farming. Trials have been underway since the beginning of the century and recently, Cuba, the Philippines and Micronesia Islands have started commercial sponge‐farming. 4. Sponges are naturally able to remove dissolved organic matter, organic particles and bacteria from the water‐column and this ability could be exploited in an integrated mariculture system. Floating cages for fish production result in the release of a lot of organic wastes that can be used as a source of food for surrounding intensive commercial sponge communities. Such an integrated system could result in effective eutrophication control, commercial sponge production and a consequent reduction of fishing effort on already heavily‐stressed natural sponge populations. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater EcosystemsWiley

Published: Sep 1, 1999

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