Pompano

Jazmine Pritchett7/10/13

Marine Aquaculture

Species CulturedTrachinotus carolinus (Florida Pompano)*

Trachinotus Ovatus (Golden Pompano)

Trachinotus blochii (Silver Pompano)

Economic Importance• Florida Pompano serves as an important sport and commercial

fishing species

• In the US Florida Pompano typically sells for $6 to $10 per pound. In Hong Kong its priced at $5/Kg

• Very popular around several countries in Asia especially China from which we import golden Pompano to help meet our Florida pompano demands.

• Silver and Golden Pompano are produced heavily in Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Life Cycle

Pompano egg prior to spawning

Fertilized Pompano egg (Neurula Stage)-eggs are buoyant, transparent and about 1 mm in diameter

Larval stage of the pompano fish-Newly hatched will be 2.0 to 2.3 mm long with little pigmentation.

Juvenile stage of the pompano-16 days after hatching

Reproduction• Pompano undergo natural spawning during spring and early summer.

• In aquaculture systems spawning is hormone induced within the brookstock year around.

-Fish are injected with a 76ug pellet of gnRHa to induce spawning -Hatch rate falls between 70-95% • Some culture systems will purchase juveniles from established

hatcheries for the grow out phase.

Feeds• Early larval stages are fed an enriched feed of rotifers.

• Between 7 to 11 days after hatching artemia enriched feed replaces the rotifers.

• Artemia feed is discontinued 20 days after hatch.

• Commercial feeds are used for juvenile pompano fish in the transition stage of development.

• During the grow out phase commercial feeds are still utilized or they can be fed with “trash fish”

-47% crude protein & 15% crude fat feed for 50g fish -43% crude protein & 12% crude fat feed for >50g fish

Production Methods1) Pond & Recirculating Aquaculture Systems-RAS used for the nursery stage and larviculture in hatcheries of pompano- Ponds are the least cost method compared to RAS and Sea

cages- Ponds had no artificial food implanted and very little

human interference during the grow out phase.

2) Sea water Cages (for silver and golden Pompano)- Fingerlings for grow- out are provided by hatcheries

to the sea cages- Cages are placed in calm, protected warm waters

such as coves, bays or sheltered lagoons- Cage site must have a good source of water exchange

to maintain water quality- Nursery net cages made of B-net- Grow out net cages P.E knotted net with a mesh size

of 14 cm.

Water Chemistry &

Culture requirements• Temperature- 27 to 30 degrees Celsius• Salinity- 30 to 37 ppt for adults. As low as 9 ppt and as high as

50 ppt for juveniles• DO- between 5.5 and 8.0 ppm• Depth- 5 to 7.5m

• Very adaptable to changing levels within the system except for temperature.

Advantages Disadvantages• Fast growing• Hardy• Tolerance for low salinity

water• Different sizes can be

placed in the same ponds because cannibalism is rare

• Can be fed “trash fish”• Desirable for food• Readily adapts

• Stock must be obtained from along sandy beaches or hatcheries at present time.

• Little information is known about many aspects of the pompano

• Problematic production of juveniles