Red octopus could help diversify Chilean aquaculture
Researchers at the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACH) and the Centre for Research in Nutrition, Food Technology and Sustainability (CIEN Austral), have received financial support from Fondef to study the cultivation of Southern red octopus (Enteroctopus megalocyathus).
The project aims to develop standards for different processes from the reproductive fitness of cephalopod juveniles to obtain 10 grams, at pilot level.
Researchers involved in the initiative also aim to study the health and nutritional management of the red octopus.
"The project delves further into the possibilities for future sustainability of the culture of this species," says Iker Uriarte, director of the Institute of Aquaculture at UACH and who is responsible for the report.
The idea is to "ensure that together with the standardized technology to produce juveniles, recommendations will be added and new lines of research to prevent and treat diseases in cultured octopuses, as well as to extract nutraceuticals (foods that have a beneficial effect on human health ) and other high value pharmaceutical products in human medicine and animal waste derived from the octopus," he continued explaining.
The multidisciplinary team that won the project for the XVIII Fondef Research and Development Competition 2010 is composed of five investigators from UACH: Ana Farias, a nutritionist, Kurt Paschke, an expert in production of crustaceans, Rodolfo Amtahuer, export in active studies; Alex Romero, expert in immune response, Ricardo Enriquez, export in pathogens, and Estrella Hernandez, CIEN Austral scientist and expert on technology transfer.
The Southern red octopus is a cold water species with rapid growth, which can be produced in the medium term through sustainable crops, economically and environmentally, UACH said in a press release.
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