Mariculture gets a boost with a breakthrough development in India, as the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi has successfully achieved an innovation in seed production technology for golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus), a high-value marine fish.
This new development will open doors to new opportunities to explore the country’s list of high value candidate species for mariculture.
Five years of research at ICAR-CMFRI’s Visakhapatnam Regional Centre was instrumental for standardising this successful technology in broodstock development, captive breeding and larval rearing. The rapid growth rates, high meat quality, high market demand for consumption and ornamental purposes Golden trevally, also known as golden kingfish, is emerging as a high value marine aquaculture species with a promising scope. The fish fetches a price of 400-500 per kg in the domestic market.
Golden Trevally is admired for its colourful and contrasting yellow and black body patterns and is a popular choice for aquariums due to its attractive appearance. The price of the fish is around Rs. 150-250/piece. Total landings of this species are estimated at 1106, 1626, 933, 327, and 375 tonnes in the last five years, mainly from Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Pudukottai, Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Tirunelveli, Tanjavur, Tuticorin, Udupi, and Gir Somnath districts. The golden trevally dominates in reef area fishing grounds in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI has stated this as a milestone achievement in Indian mariculture as the Golden trevally is identified as an ideal candidate with desirable features for sea farming
The declining trend of its landings can be compensated by the success in captive breeding of this fish. This has greater significance as it paves way for sustainable fish farming through successful mariculture practices such as sea cage farming.
He also emphasised that the technology will also contribute to wild stock restoration efforts by initiating sea-ranching drives.
Dr. Ritesh Ranjan, Senior Scientist at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI initiated the research efforts on seed production of this fish in 2019. He led a team of scientists towards achieving this goal.
The rearing of wild caught juveniles of 40-50 g was done in CMFRI’s research cage farm facility off Visakhapatnam coast. These juveniles were reared in cages for 3-4 years until they reached maturity (3.5-4.5kg).
• Themalesandfemales were segregated and the mature fish were transferred to a land-based tank system (RAS) with a 40 cubic meter capacity.
• ThematurefishspawnednaturallywithintheRAS onFebruary 9, 2024.
• Themilestone achievement was the rapid growth achieved within 51 days’ post hatch rearing of the fry. The fry attained a size of 3cm and 450 mg weight with an excellent survival rate.
Blogger:
Dr. Sathish Prasad
Senior Scientist – Aquatic Animal Health
Growel Innovation Center,
RS NO.57, Chevuru Village, Sriharipuram Panchayat, Mudinepalli Mandal, Krishna District – Andhra Pradesh India – 521329
Email: [email protected]