Abalone (Haliotis squamata) enlargement technique using a floating net cage method as a preliminary study of mariculture

The world abalone market demand is increasing in line with the increasing need for various protein sources, and therefore the abalone (Haliotis squamata) is enlarged using the floating net cage method. The activity of this study was held at the Center for Mariculture of Lombok Sea located in Village Sekotong Barat, Subdistrict of Sekotong, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province on January 18 until February 18, 2016. The enlargement of abalone using the floating net cages method needs a series of enlargement activities starting from the selection of location, preparation for nets, spreading seeds, cultivation of seeds, sampling for growth, sorting out, and grading and harvesting abalone in the size of consumption. Seeds that are spread for the enlargement are healthy seeds and responsive with the size of a seed of 2-3 cm. Foods used in the enlargement of abalone (Haliotis squamata) are Gracillaria sp. by means of giving the foods in ad libitum once in a day. The parameter of water quality includes temperature around 28.7^o C, pH 7.5, the salinity of 29 ppt, and DO 4,8 mg/l. Factors influencing the growth of abalone are foods, water quality, and pests and diseases. As for the obstacles encountered in the process of abalone, enlargement is dirt and pests, and large current surge resulted in low abalone life-span.