Contribution of holothuroids to the bioremediation and stimulation of the benthic microbial metabolism in aquaculture

An investigation was carried out in the field and in the laboratory in order to evaluate the contribution of sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa on organic load reduction from fish farming in the Eastern Mediterranean. Five experimental cages and three double systems of seawater aquaria were used for this purpose. The mean reduction of OM and OC was 30.73% and 58.58%, respectively. Moreover, the mean absorption efficiency of OM and OC during transit in the intestine of H. tubulosa was 43.40% and 54.65%, respectively. One-way ANOVA indicated significant differences on OM and OC accumulation rate between holothurians and control (p < .05). The results indicated that the feeding activity of H. tubulosa seemed to reduce the total organic load of the fish farm biodeposits, demonstrating their potential as an important organic-reducing component for the sustainability of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region.