Fep Puglia 2007-2013 “Pilot Project”

Programme: Fep Puglia 2007-2013 “Progetti pilota” (art. 41 reg. CE 1198/2006) Bando misura 3.5 BURP 105 del 17/06/2010

Project Title: “Pilot project for the experimental recolonization with the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus of coastal areas if Apulian region subjected to overexploitation; experimental management for the safeguard of the resource and of the environment”.

Acronym: -

Duration: 2013-2015

Total Budget: € 297.041

Web site: -

Summary: In the last decade wild stocks of sea urchins are declining in European coastal waters mainly due to habitat change and overfishing, and this is particularly true for the Paracentrotus lividus populations living along the Apulian coasts, where they are considered a luxury food and hence intensely harvested. On the basis of these observations, the aim of the present Research Project is to contribute to the restoring of the biomass and size of the population of the sea urchin P. lividus along areas of Apulian coasts, where population are strongly impacted by overexploitation. The Research activity is structured as follows:

1) acclimation, growing and sexual maturation of P. lividus specimens in confined conditions;

2) development of protocols for the larval development and metamorphosis of embryos from gametes obtained after induction of sexual maturation in broodstock reared in confined conditions; 3) identification of coastal areas suitable for the release of sea urchin adult specimens after growing to adult size in confined conditions, and of juveniles obtained by controlled reproduction.

Contact person in ISMAR:

Dr. Adele Fabbrocini adele.fabbrocini@fg.ismar.cnr.it

Partnership:

Azienda Agricola “Ittica Caldoli” (Lead Partner)

CNR-ISMAR Lesina