These activities were carried out during the entire period of the course.
The trainees cooperated in the production of various phyto- and zooplankton species, using the farm's own facilities, and following all the productive cycle, from the clone replication and maintenance to the production using different methods.
The theoretical part with the different productive systems and facilities used, and described the characteristics of the species reared.
Some trials were carried out by using large volumes of fertilized waters, as an alternatives to more sophisticated methods.
As far as Artemia nuplii are concerned, a series of theoretical lectures illustrated decapsulation and cyst batch techniques, without forgetting the biological aspects of the species. The practical part dealt with the applicative aspect of some methods used in cyst hatching and incubation, analysing the hatching rate and the number of cysts to treat to satisfy to quantity of nuplii required for larval feeding.
This activity had the aim to show how the plankton, particularly in the lagoon environment can be utilized in the production cycle as integration to the phyto- and zooplankton production obtained from specific systems.
The trainees cooperated with the realization of a plankton net and with the sampling, assisted to the automatic collection of plankton through the use of special gear, whereas under the theoretical aspect they attended some lessons on productive cycles and natural food webs.
This activity was carried out during the entire course.
From the theoretical point of view, the trainers tried to sensibilize the students to the problems related to the stress caused by captured and transport.
From the practical point of view, demonstrations of fishing methods, 'transport and stocking were carried out.
Particular attention was devoted to broodstock both from the feeding and the prophylaxis point of view.
Selection techniques were shown to select ripe broodstock to be used for artificial reproduction.
These didactic activities were carried out from December 1984 to February 1985.
The lessons were imparted with a theoretical part held in the class room, concerning the biology of the species on which artificial reproduction was carried out, spawning seasons, reproduction physiology, the various techniques used in artificial reproduction, in particular hormone induction.
Practical lessons included a series of operations carried out by the trainees such as choice and handling of broodstock, hormone preparation and harmone induction.
During this period, the trainees obtained 5 kg of sea bream and 12 kg of sea bass eggs.
The didactic activities relative to such topic coincide with the reproduction operations of sea bream, sea bass and shrimp, in December 1984, February 1985, May 1985 respectively.
The programme included a series of theoretical lessons to demonstrate the different egg development stages and fertilization, using the equipment available in the laboratory.
The trainees observed and carried out egg collection in the spawning tanks, with usual and automatic methods, weight control and techniques used for transport and long-distance shipping.
The theoretical lessons given from December 1984 to January 1985 concerned different incubation technique and relative structures, importance of the water physical and chemical quality in different species, recycling systems, importance of the use of filter beds,control of environmental parameters and different embryo development phases up to the hatching.
In the practical part, the trainees could check and follow all the operations on the eggs they produced themselves. Particular care was paid to operations such as areation control, temperature, egg density per unit volume, hatching rate and time.
All the phases of embryonal development were followed and observed under the microscope also to eventually determine malformations.
The duration of these activities coincided with the reproductive cycles of sea bass, sea bream and shrimp.
The programme was divided in a series of theoretical and practical lesson on the following topics; different types of structures for larval rearing, biological filters, colours, shape and size of tanks, rearing densities, water flow, prophylaxis; optimal temperatures, photoperiod and salinity; larval stages and their behaviour,; feeding techniques, weaning and artificial food use; control of chemical and physical parameters in the biological filter and in the rearing tanks; estimation and control of survival rate.
The practical part led the trainees directly to a productive cycle, through the management of the larval rearing system.
During this part of the programme, the trainees followed the farm's activities for the production of about 250.000 sea bass, 50.000 of which were wild, and 50.000 sea bream.
The trainees took turns to directly manage some ponds, checking rearing densities, weaning (passage from natural to artificial feeding), diet formulation and preparation in different development stages, sanitary treatments and prophylaxis, cleaning and hygienic control, size selection, study of environmental parameters.
These activities were carried out from March to May 1985.
The course included theoretical lessons on recycled water filtering systems, which are very important especially in winter months, corresponding to sea bass and sea bream spawning seasons. Filtering units connected to heating and recycling mechanisms were illustrated.
From a practical point of view, trainees particiaped to the realisation of the biological filter connected with the hatchery and checked the biological parameters during the entire rearing cycle.
These operations are particularly important in the productive cycle of marine aquaculture farms connected with lagoon systems. These were carried out during the course as practical activity, to show the alternance in migration of different species.
The theoretical part dealt with fry migrations and their biology, with particular reference to mullets, and identified the captured systems, the gear and the techniques used for transport, stocking and counting. Emphasis was given to the identification of the captured species.
The practical part consisted in the utilization of fishing gear, fry handling, transport, counting and number estimation, pre-adaptation in ponds.
Each fishing operation was registered in files which contained not only the description of the operation itself but also biometric data of the fry captured.
This part of the programme was useful to teach both a correct use of gears and of various fishing techniques, and the biology of the species captured.
The practical part concerned the use and the maintenance of fishing gear, the choice of the gear the mesh size, according to the species to be captured.
The theoretical part concerned the commercial aspect, especially the product preparation and conservation methods.
Each operation was noted on tiles, which also recordered the biometry of the species captured according to the gear used.
This activity, integrative to the exploitation of “vaili” and lagoons, was articulated in a series of theoretical lessons to show the different types of fish barriers, the materials used far their construction, their function and management. The practical part consisted in building a small fish barrier and its management.
These activities were carried out during the entire training course. Trainees attended lessons on rearing techniques, with particular reference to Mediterranean species.
The different phases of project were analysed, from the feasibility study to the numerical estimate of fry or pre-fattened fish to be stocked in the various ponds.
For the practical activities, trainees worked alternatively on productive cycles and on pond management, with intensive, semi-intensive, extensive and polyculture rearing methods.
Some groups were farmed to follow independantly the different trials, but regular meetings provided information on the other activities.
some operations which could not easily be repeated, as the stocking of extensive and semi-intensive ponds, or fishing of marketable product in the rearing ponds, were carried out by all trainees at the same time.
During this phase, trainees filled in files concerning all the operations and the activities carried out, without neglecting the environmental parameters and the periodical samplings of the fish reared to check their growth.
Mullet fry captured by trainees was directly used to perform some experiments in different environments and at different densities. Four rearing models were prepared, two in earth ponds and two in concrete tanks outside the hatchery.
These trails were carried out from December 1984 to May 1985.
These activities permitted to show the trainees the problems connected to winter temperatures and all the operations useful for a correct rearing cycle, ranging from periodical sampling of the product to pond cleaning and maintenance.
The technical characteristics and all the operations needed for a correct management of rearing ponds with different methods were discussed in details.
Trainees followed directly the rearing phases with extensive, semi-intensive, intensive and polyculture techniques, up to marketable size product, through water flow management, weed removal, feeding, prophylaxis and control of water quality parameters.
The feeding problem was first faced in a theoretical part which provided the basic elements on the composition of artificial food, on the role of all the essential elements to improve a diet, on the effects of unbalanced diets, in different rearing conditions and on different species.
As far as the practical part was concerned, trainees cooperated at the preparation of the food distributed in the farm, by using a kneader and an industrial mill. They also attended the food distribution in the ponds, assisting the farm's staff. They also constructed devices for food distribution and used automatic food dispensers.
This delicate topic includes a theoretical part which showed the various fish disease agents, their prophylaxis and treatment, and provided elements for diagnosis.
In the practical part, trainees used tests to analyse and to culture bacteria clones.
Trainees attended to and operated in the prophylaxis and curative treatments within the farm productive activities, by using and calculating the dosis for every single substance.
A series of theoretical lesson illustrated both the biology and the rearing techniques of the species reared.
Trainees carried out rearing trials on clams, mussels and oysters, built the structures need for the purpose, using seed collectd in the farm, and monitored their increase in size by keeping regular records.
In all the activities carried out during the training course - artificial reproduction, fishing, rearing, fry collection, phyto-and zooplankton production - trainees always had to consider environmental parameters (temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite):
Theorotical and practical lessons were held on the main elements' cycles in water, on their influence on the environment, with particular reference to rearing plants, and on the correct use of the instruments.
