The mariculture potential of the Indonesian reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru: Growth, survival and bioactive compounds

In the present study, the Indonesian reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru de Voogd [de Voogd, N.J., 2004. Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru spec. nov. (Porifera: Demospongiae: Haplosclerida) from Indonesia. Zool. Meded. 78, 477–483.] (Demospongiae, Callyspongiidae) was cultured for a period of 6 months at three sites in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. A total of 250 sponge cuttings of two size classes (30 and 40 mm in length) were threaded on either polyethylene or very fine nylon rope and attached to horizontal mooring systems. All sponge cuttings were photographed at regular time intervals. Survival rates were high (82%–100%) among all treatments used. Growth rates differed significantly among treatments, but did not differ significantly per location, farming method, explant size and explant position obtained from the parent sponge. The concentration of the bioactive compound amphitoxin in the cultured explants was not significantly lower than in the natural population, but the concentration did vary significantly between explants used in the different treatments, and also between the different fragments of the natural population. The high growth potential and high survival rate suggest that this sponge species is a promising candidate for further mariculture development.