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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192750
Title: Volitional spawning of Florida pompano, trachinotus carolinus, induced via administration of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogue (GNRHA)

Author
item Weirich, Charles
item RILEY, KENNETH - HBOI

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2006
Publication Date: 9/1/2007
Citation: Weirich, C.R., Riley, K.L. 2007. Volitional spawning of Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, induced via administration of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogue (GNRHA). Journal of Applied Aquaculture. 19(3):47-60.

Interpretive Summary: Considered one of the finest and most desirable marine table fish, Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, commands a significantly higher price than many other U.S. marine and freshwater finfish species. Due to its high market value, significant interest in the culture of pompano developed in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s, however techniques for mass production of seed stock were not fully developed. Due to renewed interest in pompano culture, a series of reproduction trials were undertaken in 2004 and 2005 with the goal of developing consistent and reliable methods for sustainable seed stock production of pompano. Specifically, brood animals were collected from the wild and after quarantine and feed training were induced to spawn volitionally via GnRHa induction to ascertain egg quantity and quality. In 2004 three spawning trials were conducted resulting in the production of 4.4 million eggs, of which 979,000 (22.0%) were floating (fertilization rate, 81.8%). In 2005 six trials were conducted resulting in the production of 5.8 million eggs, of which 2.5 million (42.7%) were floating (fertilization rate, 96.9%). Hatching rate of fertilized eggs in trials conducted ranged from 73.1-95.4%. Results indicate that pompano can be spawned in captivity over extended periods of time via GnRHa implantation. Although moderate variability in egg quality between spawning events has been observed, pompano produce relatively large quantities of eggs necessary for mass production of seed stock.

Technical Abstract: Renewed interest in the culture of Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, a high-value species identified as an excellent candidate for mariculture over three decades ago, has occurred in recent years. To support the development of pompano mariculture, trials were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate captive reproduction of pompano via gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) induction. Adult pompano collected seasonally beginning in 2003 from the wild were subjected to quarantine and feed training. Fish were held in recirculating tank systems (sex ratio, 1:1) under controlled photothermal conditions and were sampled periodically to assess reproductive condition. To initiate spawning, females (mean oocyte diameter > 500 µm) and males were implanted with a 75-µg GnRHa pellet. Fish spawned approximately 36 hours post-implantation and eggs were collected and stocked into incubation tanks (24-26 ºC) with hatching occurring approximately 30-36 hours post-fertilization. In 2004 three spawning trials were conducted resulting in the production of 4.4 million eggs, of which 979,000 (22.0%) were floating (fertilization rate, 81.8%). In 2005 six trials were conducted resulting in the production of 5.8 million eggs, of which 2.5 million (42.7%) were floating (fertilization rate, 96.9%). Hatching rate of fertilized eggs in trials conducted ranged from 73.1-95.4%. Results indicate that pompano can be spawned in captivity over extended periods of time via GnRHa implantation. Although moderate variability in egg quality between spawning events has been observed, pompano produce relatively large quantities of eggs necessary for mass production of seed stock.