Aquaculture 2022

February 28 - March 4, 2022

San Diego, California

ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE MARINE FISH PRODUCTION FOR THE SOUTHEAST U.S. AND CARIBBEAN: ADVANCEMENTS IN YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER Ocyurus chrysurus AQUACULTURE

John D. Stieglitz*, Ronald H. Hoenig, Carlos E. Tudela, Shubham K. Mathur,

Luiz Anchieta Da Silva, Leonardo Ibarra-Castro, and Daniel D. Benetti

 

*University of Miami

  Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS)

  4600 Rickenbacker Causeway; Miami, FL  33149  USA

  E-mail: jstieglitz@rsmas.miami.edu

 



Throughout the southeast region of the U.S., including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, the yellowtail snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus, is one of the most recognizable and high-value marine fish species available. With all of the market demand for this species being reliant on wild-caught fish, any disruption to the supply from commercial fisheries can have negative downstream consequences for working waterfronts and associated businesses. Aquaculture production of yellowtail snapper has been investigated as a means to stabilize the supply of this high-value species while potentially offering additional benefits related to economic diversification and added resilience for working waterfront communities through the addition of other sources of harvested fish that are immune to fluctuations in supply resulting from fisheries closures and quota limits. Recent research and development efforts have resulted in mass production of yellowtail snapper fingerlings, and grow-out trials under different commercially-relevant conditions are underway. Results will be presented and discussed, including preliminary assessments on key aquaculture performance indices.  All indications point to the yellowtail snapper being a prime aquaculture candidate species for further development in the U.S., and directions for upcoming work will be discussed.