Early attempts at sea cage culture of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra Leach) in southern Tasmania, Australia were characterised by infestation with spionid polychaetes, commonly Boccardia knoxi. Large numbers of mud worms were associated with severe blistering and stock mortality. Immersion treatment using chemotherapeutics and air-drying treatment was tested for efficacy in eliminating mud worms and lethality to abalone. Air drying of spionid-infested abalone for 2-4 h at <64% humidity significantly reduced infestation levels of two species of spionid polychaetes. Such treatment produced no abalone mortality in the short term, and 100% of 40 mm H. rubra dried for 11 h survived a 54-day posttreatment observation period. Treatment air drying suppressed abalone growth in the long term in one of three trials. Such treatment is considered worthwhile in cases of heavy spionid infestation. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries Sciences
Research Field:	Fish Pests and Diseases
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Fisheries - Aquaculture
Objective Field:	Fisheries - Aquaculture not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Lleonart, M (Mr Mark Lleonart)
UTAS Author:	Handlinger, JH (Dr Judith Handlinger)
UTAS Author:	Powell, MD (Dr Mark Powell)
ID Code:	24790
Year Published:	2003
Web of Science® Times Cited:	13
Deposited By:	TAFI - Aquaculture
Deposited On:	2003-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-09-20
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