In recent years, sea cucumber farming in northern China has become a key component of the aquaculture industry. However, the methods used for pond culture and the materials employed for artificial reefs vary widely, leading to inconsistent results. Ponds with soft mud bottoms, in particular, face serious issues such as sediment buildup, poor water quality, low survival rates, slow growth, and frequent disease outbreaks. These challenges have significantly hindered the sustainable development of sea cucumber farming. Farmers are urgently seeking effective solutions to these technical problems.
In 2003, a local farmer experimented with using woven fabric to create artificial reefs in a 100-mu (approximately 6.7 hectares) soft mud pond. He planted 4,000 seedlings per mu, with each seedling weighing around 1,000 heads per kilogram. By May 2004, the first harvest was conducted, yielding an average of 200 kg of fresh sea cucumbers per mu, with a survival rate of 40%. This trial was successful, solving the long-standing issue of difficulty in raising sea cucumbers in muddy ponds. The farmer shared his findings and gradually promoted this technique.
By 2004, the technology had been applied to 2,000 mu, and the results were promising. As the method continued to be refined and scaled up, the benefits increased steadily. By 2006, the area under this technique exceeded 40,000 mu, leading to the emergence of many specialized households and significant social and economic benefits.
The woven fabric reef technology is described as follows:
First, the artificial reefs are constructed using woven fabric that is 8 meters wide and matches the length of the pond. After being cut and sewn, the fabric is laid on the pond bottom and weighted down with stones. Small pieces of foam (5 cm x 8 cm) are attached to one side to create floating walls standing 1 meter high. These vertical walls are spaced 4 meters apart and aligned parallel to the pond’s inlet and outlet. Between the walls, various undulating shapes made from woven fabric are created to form artificial reefs. Stones are placed beneath the reefs to stabilize them. These structures provide sea cucumbers with ideal habitats for feeding, growing, and hibernating. They also serve as excellent sites for benthic diatom growth, which provides a rich food source. Additionally, the woven fabric on the flat bottom helps prevent harmful organisms from invading the sea cucumbers, improves water quality, and reduces the risk of sudden changes in the aquatic environment.
Second, the steps for implementing the woven fabric reefs include:
1. Preparing the woven fabric according to the pond size, connecting the bottom and vertical walls, and attaching floating foam to the vertical walls.
2. In spring and autumn, draining the pond as much as possible before laying the woven fabric on the bottom and securing it with stones. Artificial reefs of different shapes are then placed within the spacing between the vertical walls, with stones dropped below them.
3. After leveling the pond and setting up the reefs, the water level is raised to 0.8–1.0 meters to cultivate benthic diatoms and provide a rich food source for the seedlings.
Third, during the management phase:
1. After 15–20 days of stocking, the vertical walls and artificial reefs begin to show dense benthic diatom growth. Healthy seedlings without pathogens should be used, with a size of 400–600 heads per kilogram. Planting density is typically 4,000–5,000 seedlings per mu.
2. Water levels are controlled at 0.8–1.0 meters in spring and autumn to promote diatom growth, while maintaining a depth of over 1.5 meters in summer and winter to stabilize water temperature. Regular water exchange is essential to remove harmful substances, bring in new nutrients, and maintain a healthy environment for the sea cucumbers.
3. Daily monitoring of water quality and record-keeping are crucial to detect and address any abnormalities promptly.
4. Harvesting occurs when the sea cucumbers reach a size of 400–600 heads per kilogram, typically after 1.5 years of cultivation. After harvesting, the pond is disinfected and prepared for the next cycle.
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