Amin Oujifard

Background: Achieving a local protocol for high-density copepod cultivation under captivity to supply live food for marine aquaculture hatcheries. Objective: To acquire technical knowledge for producing brackish water copepods in laboratory conditions – introducing suitable and cultivable copepod species as candidates for large-scale cultivation studies in hatcheries – reducing production costs by introducing copepods as a substitute for Artemia. Methodology: Copepods are present in almost all surface waters around the world, with adult lengths in various species reaching less than 1000 micrometers. A plankton net with a mesh size of 30 microns was used for sampling, and species separation and identification were carried out under a microscope. Subsequently, the selected species were cultivated step-by-step from small volumes to larger volumes. Finally, after each treatment reached maturity, species counting and identification were performed using biological keys. Findings: Acquiring technical knowledge for producing copepods in laboratory conditions. Introducing suitable and cultivable copepod species as candidates for large-scale cultivation studies in hatcheries. Conclusion: Copepods are suitable for use in marine aquaculture hatcheries and can serve as live food at various stages of larval development. Their high density capability, rapid growth rate, high reproduction, quick maturation, size differentiation from nauplii to fully grown adults, and easy separation of adults from juveniles for use as live food are advantages of this zooplankton. Keywords: Copepods, live food, larval marine cultivation, microalgae, nutritional value.