Haliotis tuberculata coccinea has been identified as a target species for European aquaculture development, in order to fulfil the rising demand for abalone. The effects of different stocking densities on the growth performance, feed utilization and survival of two different initial size groups (30 and 40 mm) of abalones, during the final grow‐out to cocktail/market size (45–60 mm), were determined over a 6‐month period. Trials were performed in abalone cages installed in a commercial open‐sea cages fish farm. Animals were fed the red algae Gracilaria cornea and the green one Ulva rigida, both obtained from a land‐based integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture system. Survival rates were very high (94–98%) regardless the density employed. Sustained high linear growth was recorded both in shell and weight. However, a 17–19% reduction in weight gain was obtained by doubling the initial stocking density, suggesting a higher competition for space or food. Nevertheless, the high growth performance (70–94 μm day−1; 250–372% weight gain) and survival attained, even at high densities, denoted the suitability of the offshore mariculture system as well as the biofilter produced macroalgae for grow‐out culture of H. tuberculata coccinea that overall could reach cocktail/commercial size in only 18–22 months.

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The effect of food quality on some reproductive aspects (the fatty acid profile and the morphology of the gonad and the fecundity) and physiological parameters (growth and feeding rates) were evaluated in adult abalone, Haliotis tuberculata coccinea, females. Abalones were fed on macroalgae diets, Gracilaria cornea, with three different protein levels, Low‐N, Medium‐N, and High‐N. After inducing spawning, a higher number of eggs released per gram of abalone and the greatest egg and cytoplasm diameters were found in abalones fed on Medium‐N and High‐N G. cornea diets. Feeding High‐N G. cornea increased the level of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n‐6) in the mature gonad tissue in H. tuberculata coccinea. Likewise, a histological study on the gonadal morphology revealed that ripe‐stage individuals fed on a Low‐N G. cornea diet had a larger macrophage populations and the areas of degenerated oocytes increased. These results suggest that macroalgae cultivated in seawater enriched with ammonium may be a good choice for producing food for female H. tuberculata coccinea broodstock in the Canaries.