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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215962
Title: Production characteristics of Florida pompano reared to market size at two different densities in low salinity recirculating aquaculture systems

Author
item Weirich, Charles
item WILLS, PAUL - HBOI
item BAPTISTE, RICHARD - HBOI
item WOODWARD, PETER - HBOI
item Riche, Martin

Submitted to: International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference and Workshop Book of Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2007
Publication Date: 10/15/2007
Citation: Weirich, C.R., Wills, P.S., Baptiste, R.M., Woodward, P.N., Riche, M.A. 2007. Production characteristics of Florida pompano reared to market size at two different densities in low salinity recirculating aquaculture systems [abstract]. International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference and Workshop Book of Abstracts. p. 17.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus, a high-value carangid, is widely recognized as an excellent candidate for commercial mariculture. While results of a recent study indicated that pompano can be successfully reared to market size in small scale recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) at low densities, production of this species using commercial scale RAS at moderate to high densities has not been evaluated. In addition, culture of market ready pompano at low salinities has not been investigated. To address these topics production characteristics of pompano reared to market size (> 570 g) at two different culture densities in commercial scale low salinity RAS were determined. Juvenile pompano (mean wt. = 260 g) were stocked into four RAS, each containing two 8 m3 culture tanks, at an initial density of 6.5 or 13.0 kg/m3. Salinity and water temperature were maintained within 10% of nominal values (5 g/L and 28 C), at a photoperiod of 12L:12D. Fish were fed a 50% protein, 14% lipid diet twice daily. At three week intervals production characteristics including mean weight, specific growth rate (SGR, %/day), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival were estimated by sampling 10% of the population in each tank. At the conclusion of the experiment production characteristics were determined by total harvest of each tank. Results indicate that pompano can be reared to market size in low salinity RAS, with good survival and overall growth rates ranging from 2.8 (low density) to 3.4 (high density) g/day. Final yield of low and high density treatments was 14.2 and 25.5 kg/m3, respectively. Culture density affected final harvest weight and FCR. Regarding the latter, FCR values were poor compared to other marine finfish, suggesting that pompano may require feeds containing higher dietary protein:energy ratios than present in available commercial rations. In addition to production characteristics, data on whole body composition, fillet yield, hepatosomatic index, and sex ratio will be presented.