Improved Giant Grouper Hatchery Methods Open Opportunities for Open ocean Aquaculture and Fishery Enhancement

Giant Grouper (E. lanceolatus) is one of the most desirable marine fish in the world. Its robust nature, tremendous growth rate, superb quality flesh and high value make it ideal for open ocean aquaculture. This species has also been heavily overfished throughout its range. Hatcheries could supplement commercial and recreational fisheries through stock enhancement, and also aid grouper fishery management and biological research. Commercial-scale hatchery culture of Giant Grouper has proven challenging. Taiwanese mesocosm-based hatcheries are inconsistent, and lack scalability. Most SE Asian grouper farms rely on wild-caught fry. Larval rearing is primarily constrained by first feeding challenges and cannibalism. We will test both natural and induced spawns in our mature broodstock. Larval rearing will compare a diet using solely our proprietary live feeds, or one combined with enriched rotifers. Two larval stocking densities will be evaluated. Optimum production strategies will be identified based on survival, growth, and size homogeneity.