Abstract
This report summarizes activities, methods, and protocols conducted over an intensive internship at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH), focusing on high-value tropical and subtropical marine finfish species. The work conducted encompassed active participation in all stages of the hatchery production cycle, including broodstock management, incubation, shipping, and stocking of eggs and larvae, live feeds production, and larval rearing. It further included hatching trials, fish transport, tank setup, treatments and day to day activities. This reports describes details of tasks conducted as part of the routine activities of the hatchery, such as feeds preparation and feeding a variety of species at different developmental stages from juveniles to adults and broodstock, as well prophylactic treatments, fish handling and sampling, transfer, samples for water quality analysis, and fish health monitoring. The work included learning and assisting in determining the optimal conditions and best practices for each specific stage at the different species with a particular focus on cobia (Rachycentron canadum). It included challenging, long range shipping eggs and larvae of cobia and pompano (Carangidae, Trachinotus carolinus) to Panama and Dubai, UAE that took 48 hours to be accomplished door to door. These tasks are complex and entail sensitive, early developmental stages of pelagic marine finfish species. Details are critical, and there is no room for errors. These steps are described herein to the best of my knowledge.
The work conducted also encompassed a trial to assess optimal conditions and parameters for hatching of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) embryos through newly hatched, 1 day post hatch larvae. It aimed at assisting in identifying optimal conditions for yielding the highest survival rate through this early development stage. In conjunction with the University of Miami and the Center of Aquaculture Technologies (CAT), these experiments were conducted in an attempt to better understand this problem and work towards addressing it. Besides the scientific staff of the hatchery, scientists from CAT shared their experience and provided a wealth of knowledge. The company has IP on its technologies and kept it protected under an NDA.
The University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) serves as a central platform for applied aquaculture research, focusing on the full-cycle rearing of several high-value marine fish species.Furthermore, the report illustrates how these systems align with the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Hatchery and Nursery Standard and presents institutional infrastructure, technical methods, and collaborative frameworks necessary for scalable marine aquaculture. In addition to representing important learning accomplishments, this report is intended to be a modest contribution to assist in improving marine fish hatchery protocols.