AQUACULTURE EXTENSION MANUAL NO. 54 OCTOBER 2012

Grow-out culture of mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus Forsskal, 1775) in ponds

Eliseo B. Coniza Mae R. Catacutan Pedrita A. Caballero

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center AQUACULTURE DEPARTMENT www.seafdec.org.ph

SEAFDEC MANUAL #53 OUTSIDE FRONT COVER

Aquaculture Extension Manual No.53 October 2012

Grow-out culture of mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus Forsskal, 1775) in ponds

Eliseo B. Coniza Mae R. Catacutan Pedrita A. Caballero

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center AQUACULTURE DEPARTMENT www.seafdec.org.ph Grow-out culture of mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus Forsskal, 1775) in ponds OCTOBER 2012

ISSN 0115-5369

Published and printed by: Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines

Copyright © 2012 Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines

All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher

For comments SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department and inquiries Tigbauan, Iloilo 5021, Philippines

Tel (63-33) 511 9172 Fax (63-33) 511 8709 Email [email protected] AQD website www.seafdec.org.ph FOREWORD

Mangrove red snapper is a highly valued food fi sh in Indo-Pacifi c countries. Similar to reef fi shes such as groupers (Epinephelus sp.) and sea bass (Lates calcarifer), snappers (Lutjanus sp.) have a strong market demand in Southeast Asia. The culture of snapper is gaining popularity despite constraints such as unreliable seed supply and lack of suitable formulated feeds.

In 1992, in response to the need to develop culture techniques for snapper, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) started its research on broodstock management and larval rearing for this species. Four years thence, a study on nutritional requirements was conducted in order to develop diets specially formulated for snapper. By 2009, the effectiveness of a SEAFDEC-formulated diet was verifi ed. At present, AQD studies on snapper are focused on refi ning seed and fi ngerling production techniques and on semi-intensive production in ponds.

This manual describes protocols for farming mangrove red snapper in ponds and includes AQD’s results on suitable feed formulations for grow-out culture. We hope that researchers, students and other stakeholders would fi nd this useful, and may the knowledge and information gained from this manual contribute to increased awareness towards sustainable aquaculture.

Felix G. Ayson, D. Sc. Chief SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department CONTENTS

Foreword v

Introduction 1 Culture methods 2 Site selection 3 Pond preparation 4 Selection of juveniles 6 Handling, packing and transport of juveniles 6 Acclimation and stocking juveniles 8 Stock management 9 Fish sampling 9 Monitoring water quality parameters 10 Feeds and feeding 11 Aeration 13 Pond and cage maintenance 13 Support facilities 14 Harvest 16 Farm records 17 Common parasites of snapper 18 Cost and return analysis 19 References and recommended readings 27

Acknowledgment 29 About the authors 29 INTRODUCTION

Snappers belong to the family Lutjanidae. There are 17 genera and 103 species in this family, of which 65 species belong to genus Lutjanus. Snappers are mainly confined to the tropical and sub-tropical waters. They are distributed in the Indo-West Pacific: east from Samoa and the Line Islands, west to east Africa, south from Australia and north to the Ryukus Islands, Japan. Juveniles of the species are found frequently in brackish estuarine waters and reach freshwater streams where adults grow as large as 1.2 m in total length before migrating offshore to deep reef areas (in excess of 100 m) to spawn.

The mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) is among the high-value marine fishes with great potential for export to Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and the USA. It is an esteemed food fish by many Asians, fetching a wholesale price of about US $7/kg. In the Philippines at present, there is an increasing demand for frozen and live snappers in restaurants, resorts, hotels and supermarkets. Snapper is important to coastal fishery and ideal for aquaculture particularly in Southeast Asia. Aquaculture production is mostly done by Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, China and the Philippines. It is a fast growing fish which can be reared easily in captivity and can survive well in all phases of culture, from the hatchery to the grow out. The SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) has already developed breeding and larval rearing techniques of L. argentimaculatus. In its natural habitat, snappers are opportunistic carnivores which feed mainly on small fishes and crustaceans but can be trained to feed on formulated diet as well. The use of fish by-catch or trash fish as feed is the common practice during grow-out of snapper, however, the supply and quality of trash fish are inconsistent and expensive. AQD has therefore developed formulated diets for growing snapper juveniles to market-size.

This manual aims to guide fish farmers, operators, feed millers, aquaculturists, technicians and students on the grow-out culture of snappers in ponds and in cages within ponds.

Local names - mangagat, managat, gingaw

Randall JE www.fishbase.org