Cultivation of seahorse in cages as commercial alternative to coastal communities with low-income

• Grant number: 13/22260-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Wagner Cotroni Valenti
• Grantee: Felipe Pereira de Almeida Cohen
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/18050-0 - Analysis of the profile of bacterial communities associated with mucus as a traceability method for seahorses, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The aim of this study is to technically enable a production system of seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) for coastal communities with low-income. For this, it will be studied three important links in the production chain of native seahorses from Brazil, seahorses from Brazil which are the production, transport and traceability. Although culture of marine ornamental animals has been emerging as an alternative to extraction, the sustainability of these activities has been questioned. Usually, these activities are conducted in developed countries, which have the technology and capital needed, affecting this activity in exporting developing countries. Therefore, there is a growing demand for simpler systems that can be used by coastal communities with low incomes. If sustainably managed, these systems can provide local income and social benefits, contributing to the sustainable use and conservation of marine ecosystem. Experiments of production and sustainability will be performed in cages in the coastal region of the Reserva Extrativista do Mandira, Cananéia, São Paulo. In this place lives a well-structured quilombola community with experience in oyster culture. The deployment of seahorse culture activity could be a complement to the community income. Nonetheless, for a perennial activity, it is necessary to strengthen the product distribution and certification. Thus, it is intend to optimize the transport of seahorses, and verify if the profile of bacterial communities associated with the mucus of the skin can be suitable as a traceability method.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COHEN, FELIPE P. A.; PIMENTEL, TANIA; VALENTI, WAGNER C.; CALADO, RICARDO. First insights on the bacterial fingerprints of live seahorse skin mucus and its relevance for traceability. Aquaculture, v. 492, p. 259-264, JUL 1 2018. (15/18050-0, 13/22260-4)

COHEN, FELIPE P. A.; PLANAS, MIQUEL; VALENTI, WAGNER C.; LILLEBO, ANA; CALADO, RICARDO. Optimizing packing of live seahorses for shipping. Aquaculture, v. 482, p. 57-64, JAN 1 2018. (15/18050-0, 13/22260-4)

COHEN, FELIPE P. A.; VALENTI, WAGNER C.. Opportunities and constraints for developing low-cost aquaculture of seahorses in mangrove estuaries. Aquaculture, v. 502, p. 121-127, MAR 15 2019. (13/22260-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COHEN, Felipe Pereira de Almeida. Aquaculture, conservation and commercialization of Seahorses on the international scenario. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.