THE STATUS OF SPOTTED SEATROUT Cynoscion nebulosus AS A TECHNOLOGICALLY FEASIBLE SPECIES FOR U.S. MARINE AQUACULTURE

The spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is a euryhaline, estuarine-dependent sciaenid inhabiting the western Atlantic from New York through the Gulf of Mexico, its center of abundance. The combination of its accessibility to anglers, aggressive feeding on a variety of baits, and desirable flesh makes it the most popular recreational fish in the Gulf of Mexico.      

Spotted seatrout culture is rooted in stock enhancement. Established techniques for broodstock husbandry and photothermal conditioning enable gamete maturation and spontaneous spawning of broodstock in tanks. Pond rearing techniques for the larvae were adapted from striped bass and red drum protocols in the late 1970s and well-established by the mid-1980s. Essentially, ponds were filled with brackish water, fertilized, bloomed, stocked, and occasionally supplementally fed with commercial fish food after about two weeks. Although produced in ponds to varying levels in Florida and South Carolina, Texas remains the leading producer of seatrout with more than 64 million 30-day old seatrout larvae produced for release since 2011.

Despite what appears to be relatively high overall production numbers, low and variable production from ponds resulting from intracohort variability, cannibalism, and the inability to precisely control extensive pond systems has hampered culture of seatrout beyond the 30-day period. In 2005, the University of Southern Mississippi adapted the Texas broodstock protocol and began rearing seatrout for intensive production in recirculating systems. Through management of stocking density, feeding frequency, and feed ration, we developed a protocol that achieves an average of 40% survival through 30 days and up to 80% through 100 days using rotifers, Artemia, and commercial pellets. Preliminary work has produced a 10-12 inch fish in 10 months.

While a practical protocol for seatrout production does exist, interest for commercial aquaculture has remained low. The future of seatrout culture will depend on establishing economic feasibility through market analysis. In particular, the potential to increase demand beyond coastal regions and production costs must be assessed. Technology improvements must include techniques for culture at higher stocking density, efficient feeding protocols for grow out, and optimal feeds for larvae, juveniles, and broodstock. Domestication and selective breeding for improved production traits have not been initiated, but genomic tools and techniques for in vitro fertilization have been developed and are available to support such programs.