| Summary: | The European aquaculture industry began to undertake Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) aquaculture in the 1980s due to the favorable growth rate and high market value of this cold-water marine fish. Atlantic halibut cultivation began in Chile in 1996 in the Magallanes region (53˚S). Chilean aquaculture facilities were finally equipped to begin rearing Atlantic halibut after 12 years and a total investment of $ 2 million USD. Infrastructure is now in place to manage the entire production cycle, including broodstock rearing, egg incubation, larval rearing (yolk-sac stage, first-feeding), weaning, the nursery stage, on-growing in land-based tanks, harvest, and marketing. The hatchery phase to produce 10-g juveniles requires 10–12 months, followed by an approximately 30-month grow-out phase in land-based tanks to produce 3-kg fish. Further research and development are being performed in nutrition (diet formulation), genetics (selection for disease resistance and growth rate), fish health, and environmental issues to support the development of a sustainable marine aquaculture industry for this species.
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