Recovery of Ecteinascidia turbinata Herman 1880 (Ascidiacea : Perophoridae) populations after different levels of harvesting on a sustainable basis

The harvesting of Ecteinascidia turbinata on a sustainable basis could be a n example for the production of metabolites from marine organisms while pro tecting natural populations. A research program was carried out in order to determine the recovery capacity of an E. turbinata population, after carry ing out harvesting experiments in the Carribbean and Mediterranean Sea. In the Mediterranean, 25, 40 and 100% of the population was collected, with tw o collections for each group at 45 and 60 d. There was complete recovery of the biomass in the 25 and 40% collections after 45 d,but in the 100% colle ctions only 62% of the biomass had recovered after 60 d. In the Caribbean, 25, 50, 75%, and later 100%, collections were carried out. After 16 d there was a recovery of the density of the population but not of the biomass. Af ter 3 mo there was a recovery of density, biomass and root coverage in the 100% collection.