An assessment of sponge mariculture potential in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia

Abstract

In the present study, carried out in the Spermonde Archipelago, south Sulawesi, Indonesia, an assessment is presented of the farming potential of six sponge species (out of nine candidates considered) possessing pharmacologically promising compounds, i.e. Aaptos suberitoides, Amphimedon paraviridis, Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru, Hyrtios reticulatus, Ircinia ramosa and Pseudoceratina cf. verrucosa. A total of 350 cuttings was threaded on a polyethylene rope and attached to horizontal mooring structures at three experimental sites. Growth and survival were monitored for a period of six months and for some explants for an additional period of ten months. All cuttings were photographed at regular time intervals and growth was measured as increase in length and dry weight. With the exception of P. cf. verrucosa, survival rates were high (80–96%) during the mariculture period. Size increases were too little to be measured in A. suberitoides and P. cf. verrucosa cuttings. Significant growth was only observed for C. biru. The high growth potential and high survival rate of this sponge species suggest that it is a promising candidate for further mariculture development.