en aquaculture aquaculture پژوهشي Orginal research papers <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">The sea cucumber, <em>Holothuria scabra </em>(sandfish), is an important aquaculture species due to its high economic value. This has led to over-exploitation causing population decline; consequently, aquaculture of sea cucumber is required to increase production. This study aims to obtain data and information on the growth performance of sandfish reared in a sea pen culture system and develop its cultivation in coastal areas of</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> Sumberkima Village, Gerokgak District of Buleleng, Bali-Indonesia. Three 10 x 5 m² sea pens (KJT), namely KJT-A, KJT-B, and KJT-C, with a 3-m height net, were installed at the site using bamboo and plugged into the seabed to support the net. These three KJTs have different seafloor characteristics from the experimental group. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">The</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> sediment composition in the KJT-B consisted of loamy sand with high organic matter compared to KJT-A and KJT-C, which were sandy. The sandfish juveniles </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">were stocked into each KJT at a density of 300 individual/pen</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> with an average </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">initial weight of 17.7&plusmn;6.6 g and an average total length of 6.6&plusmn;1.2 cm</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">for 180 days. The results showed </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">the daily growth rate of sandfish in KJT-B was the highest (1.44 %/day) when compared with KJT-A (0.92 %/day), and KJT-C (0.96 %/day). These results indicated that the growth of sandfish (<em>H. scabra</em>) depends on the structure and composition of the seafloor sediment. The seafloor sediment structures of loamy sand with high organic matter and C-organic content promote the best growth of sandfish.</span></span></span></p> Sandfish, Sea pens, Growth, Seafloor sediment, Organic matters 423 433 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4461-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 N.A. Giri adiasmaranyoman@yahoo.com 100319475328460055186 100319475328460055186 Yes Research Center for Fishery, National Research and Innovation Agency, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia S.B.M. Sembiring moriasembiring@yahoo.co.id 100319475328460055187 100319475328460055187 No Research Center for Fishery, National Research and Innovation Agency, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia G.S. Wibawa siboleng@gmail.com 100319475328460055188 100319475328460055188 No bInstitute for Mariculture Research and Fisheries Extension, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia A. Nasukha phia.nasukha@gmail.com 100319475328460055189 100319475328460055189 No Research Center for Fishery, National Research and Innovation Agency, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia R. Septory r.septory@gmail.com 100319475328460055190 100319475328460055190 No Research Center for Fishery, National Research and Innovation Agency, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia