Acclimation and propagation of the abalone Haliotis tuberculata in a land-based culture system in Israel

The European abalone Haliotis tuberculata, a valuable macroalgivore, was introduced and acclimated for culture in a land-based facility at Eilat, Israel, on the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba). Large quantities of high-protein seaweed (Ulva lactuca) are produced there in biofilters used in fish mariculture. Although high water temperatures (25-27 C) inhibited summer growth, and in spite of the high salinity (41 ± 1 ppt), four groups of abalone of different sizes grew more in 1 yr than reported in their natural habitat. This fast growth is attributed to the long period (8 mo, from fall to spring) in which temperatures in Eilat waters are within the optimal range for this species, and to the high protein content of the seaweed. Winter timing of maximal growth as well as reproduction in Eilat was reversed compared with Europe, where they occur in summer. Gametogenesis began in December, and the gonads in most broodstock were spent by May. Haliotis tuberculata appears to have excellent potential for intensive mariculture in Israel.