Optimization of broodstock culture and larval quality of Scylla serrata in a modified recirculating aquaculture system incorporating a polychaete-assisted biofilter

Derly Nemeño; Gaudioso Pates, Jr; Mercedes Maceren-Pates; Charles Van Calunod; Emilia Quinitio; Fe Dolores-Estepa; Joseph Milfred Arcenal

doi:10.22034/ijab.v3i14.2779

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Derly Nemeño Department of Marine Science, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan 9200, Philippines.
Gaudioso Pates, Jr Department of Marine Science, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan 9200, Philippines.
Mercedes Maceren-Pates
mercedes.pates@g.msuiit.edu.ph
Fishery Research Laboratory, Kyushu University, 4-46-24 Tsuyazaki, Fukutsu 811-3304, Japan.
Charles Van Calunod Department of Marine Science, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan 9200, Philippines.
Emilia Quinitio Integrated Services for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries (ISDA Inc.), Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines.
Fe Dolores-Estepa Integrated Services for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries (ISDA Inc.), Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines.
Joseph Milfred Arcenal Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Government College, Dimataling Campus, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur 7041, Philippines.

Vol. 3 No. 14 (2026): June

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May 18, 2026

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This study evaluated the performance of two culture systems: a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) incorporating a polychaete-assisted biofilter, and a conventional non-recirculating aquaculture system (NRAS, control) with regular water replacement. Both systems were equipped with individual compartments to minimize cannibalism. The survival, spawning success, hatching rates, and larval quality of Scylla serrata broodstock were assessed. Broodstock maintained in the RAS exhibited significantly higher survival (70.37±6.41%), spawning (61.11±4.80%), and hatching (55.55±4.81%) rates compared to those in the NRAS (51.85±5.78%, 35.18±10.14%, and 20.37±8.01%, respectively), indicating that the RAS provided more favorable conditions for broodstock conditioning. Larvae from broodstock in both systems were subjected to salinity (0, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 ppt) and formalin (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm) stress tolerance tests. Larvae produced from RAS-held broodstock displayed significantly higher LT?? values under both stressors, suggesting greater resilience. Overall, these results demonstrate that the RAS with a polychaete-assisted biofilter not only enhances the reproductive performance of S. serrata broodstock but also improves larval quality, providing a promising approach for sustainable and reliable hatchery production.

Nemeño, D., Pates, Jr, G., Maceren-Pates, M., Van Calunod, C., Quinitio, E., Dolores-Estepa, F., & Arcenal, J. M. (2026). Optimization of broodstock culture and larval quality of Scylla serrata in a modified recirculating aquaculture system incorporating a polychaete-assisted biofilter. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 3(14), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v3i14.2779

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