Ultrasonic monitoring of early larval development of fish in tanks. Case study: Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Swimbladder inflation is a significant matter in intensive fish farming, since it related to larval survival rate and the morphological quality of individuals. In this work, we propose non-invasive acoustic technique using ultrasound monitor swimbladder development gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) tanks. The fundamental hypothesis that, due high contrast gas, swimbladder’s process can be detected by measuring larvae’s target strength during their early development. Backscatter numerical models finite element method, developed from biological measurement data, were applied evaluate feasibility proposed method. measurements obtained an EK60 Simrad echosounder working at 200 kHz. values evidenced with without presence swimbladder, showing statistically relationship standard length, area percentage larvae swimbladder. experiments carried out Spanish Institute Oceanography (IEO)’s marine aquaculture plant Mazarrón (Murcia, Spain).