CMFRI develops seed manufacturing expertise for top worth marine fish golden trevally

In a big achievement in India’s mariculture sector, the researchers of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Analysis Institute (CMFRI) has succeeded in captive breeding of golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus), a excessive worth marine fish. Scientists at CMFRI’s Visakhapatnam Regional Centre achieved profitable bloodstock growth, captive breeding and larval rearing of the fish after 5 years of analysis.

The achievement is anticipated to open up a brand new avenue for sustainable seafood manufacturing and enhance the nation’s mariculture actions, together with sea cage farming.

Golden trevally or golden king fish is a perfect candidate species for mariculture (marine aquaculture) as a result of its sooner progress charges, good meat high quality and big market demand for each consumption and decorative functions. The farm-gate worth of the fish is ₹400-500 per kg.

Decorative selection

It’s a reef-associated fish and lives within the firm of bigger fishes like skates, sharks, groupers and many others. Curiously, juveniles of this species act as pilots for sharks. It’s a silver gray fish with yellowish colouration on the stomach, with scattered black patches and all fins colored yellow and a black tail. The juveniles are extra golden in color with the black bands giving them a really enticing look and therefore a desire for aquarium holding. As a decorative selection, the fish is priced between ₹150-250 per piece.

A crew of scientists on the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI led by Ritesh Ranjan, Senior Scientist, began the analysis efforts on seed manufacturing of this fish in 2019. “This can be a important milestone in Indian mariculture”, mentioned A Gopalakrishnan, CMFRI Director. Golden trevally is a perfect candidate for sea farming as a result of its fascinating qualities. Given the declining development of its landings, the success in captive breeding of this fish has larger significance as it can provide alternatives for sustainable fish farming by way of mariculture practices together with sea cage farming. The expertise will even contribute to wild inventory restoration efforts by way of the sea-ranching initiative,” he mentioned.

In India, the fish touchdown observations present that the golden trevally are landed predominantly at reef space fishing grounds in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat. The whole fish landings estimate for the final 5 years was 1,106, 1,626, 933, 327 and 375 tonnes, respectively.