Sea Bass Aquaculture

John Lawson

Species of Sea Bass Grown in Aquaculture

Lutes calcarifer, BarramundiDicentrarchus labrax, European Sea BassLateolabrax japonicus, Japanese Sea BassDicentrarchus punctatus, Spotted Sea BassCentropristis striata, Black Sea Bass

Lutes calcarifer, Barramundi

Dicentrarchus labrax, European Sea Bass

Lateolabrax japonicus, Japanese Sea Bass

Dicentrarchus punctatus, Spotted Sea Bass

Centropristis striata, Black Sea Bass

Economical ImportanceHigh market value, more expensive than other fish.Grown in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea,

Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and along the Atlantic Coast.No more than $10.00 per a pound.Economically important food fish all over the world

depending on where they are grown and which species.Marketable size fish is around 300-600 grams depending on

species. For European Sea Bass annual production is around 60,000-

65,000 tons.

Life Cycle and Larval Stages

Fertilized eggs need 13 to 15 hours in 29 to 31 degrees Celsius seawater in order to hatch.

Larva at 2.05 mm (1 day after hatching). Yolk absorbed.

Larvae at 3.60 mm (10 days after hatching).

Juveniles at 5.5 mm (18 days after hatching).

Life Cycle and Larval Stages 2

Reproduction in Captivity

Production MethodsHatchery

Broodstock/Spawning Tanks – wild caught sea bass or ponds/cages. Used for reproduction of sea bass.

Incubation Tanks – store and help fertilized eggs produce into larvae.

Rearing Tanks – large enough larvae are transferred here for growth until they are large enough to be place in cages or ponds.

Factors Species Production Target Level of Financial Input Salinity most have minimal fluctuation (28-32ppt) Site needs to be near sandy or rocky shore Spacious, flat, minimal water movement

Hatchery

Broodstock/Spawning Tank

Incubation Tank

Larval Rearing Tank

Production Methods 2After larvae have grown to large enough size.Nursery – for juveniles that are 1-2.5cm in length.

Nursery Pond – pond culture specifically for juveniles.Nursery Net/Cage – net or cage specifically for

juveniles.Concrete Tanks – should be avoided.

Grow Out – juveniles reaching 8-10cm to market size. Cages – floating cages and stationary cages.Ponds – monoculture and polyculture.

Intensive

Nursery

Nursery Pond Nursery Cage

Grow OutCages

Stationary Cage Floating Cage

Grow OutPonds

Feeds and FeedingLarvae < 2.05mm – yolk sacLarvae > 2.05mm – zooplankton and

phytoplankton such as diatoms, algae, small shrimp, and small fish. Rotifer and brine shrimp are commonly used as feed.

Juveniles – Chopped up trash fish or brine shrimp.

Adults – Chopped up trash fish.

Feed and Feeding

RotiferBrachionus plicatilis

Brine Shrimp Life Cycle

Artemia

Water Chemistry and Environmental requirements

pH – 7.5 to 8.5Dissolved Oxygen – 4 to 9 ppm Salinity – 10 to 30 pptTemperature – 26 to 32 °C NH3 – less than 1 ppm H2S – less than 0.3 ppmTurbidity – less than 10 ppm

Advantages vs. Disadvantages

Advantages High market value. Economically important food fish around the

world. More expensive than other types of fish. Variety of cultures used for growth. Large production rate. Can live in catadromous habitats.

Disadvantages High levels of management. High operating cost. Land cost to start aquaculture farm is high. High labor and equipment cost. Cannibalism at young age. Breed during Winter and Spring. Inconsistent supply of fry collected from wild. Hard to start culture. Low survival rate for young. Food for larvae hard to manage. Culture cropping period 6 months at 2 cropping per a year.