title: New protocols to improve the deposition and hatching of Sepia officinalis' eggs.
abstract: The objective of this study was the development of hatching protocols in controlled conditions to obtain juveniles, in order to restock and increase the resource of Sepia officinalis. The study was divided into the following phases: development and application of artificial surfaces at specific sites of the Molise coast in Italy; induction of eggs hatching and juveniles maintenance under controlled condition; juveniles introduction into specific sites and assessment their increment; experimental data elaboration. The obtained results concerned both the effectiveness of the artificial surfaces tasted during the study and the importance of the recovery of the eggs laid on artificial surfaces (artefacts and fishing gear) for preservation and the management of the Sepia officinalis resource. The induction tests conducted on eggs hatching under controlled conditions confirmed what described in the extant literature. Water salinity was detected as the only limiting factor, with values ≤ 20% related to the absence of hatching. The described practices for harvesting and induction of hatching for the production of juvenile cuttlefish may be endorsed by the operators at relatively low cost and throughout the year, with obvious economic benefits.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Centro Sperimentale Regionale per la Pesca ed Acquacoltura, Viale Marinai d'Italia 20, 86039 Termoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Barile
authors.forename: Sabatino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappabianca
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonetti
authors.forename: Mariaspina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scopa
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nerone
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mascilongo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Recchi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Aloise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005398:Fisheries / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049833:Sepia / Q000502:physiology*; D015053:Zygote