Effects of Intensive and Semi-Intensive Rearing on Growth, Survival, and V-Shaped (Lordotic) Skeletal Deformities in Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

Intensive production can reduce production costs and improve efficiency of larvae culture. This study compared the effects of intensive and semi-intensive production on growth, survival, and V-shaped skeletal deformities in juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). At the end of the 50-day study, survival was 68.01 +/- 0.8%, mean weight was 1.32 +/- 0.03 g, and lordosis was 32% among juveniles raised in the intensive system. Survival and mean weight were significantly higher, 92.06 +/- 1.1% and 1.61 +/- 0.02 g, respectively, among juveniles raised in the semi-intensive system, and none had lordosis (p<0.05). Results suggest that semi-intensive systems are more advantageous than intensive for rearing sea bream juveniles.