THE STATUS OF KAMPACHI Seriola rivoliana CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

Kampachi, Seriola rivoliana - also known as the Almaco Jack, or Long-fin Amberjack - is

currently cultured commercially at one offshore facility in Kona, Hawaii, which reportedly

produces around 400 tons/year. There are also two additional facilities undertaking research on

the species in the U.S. - one in Kona, and the other in Sarasota, FL, and an offshore

demonstration project - the Velella Epsilon - that is applying for permits to culture a single

cohort offshore of Sarasota, in the Gulf of Mexico. Elsewhere, there are two commercial farms

operating in the Gulf of California, in Mexico, and significant production of S. rivoliana and its

sibling species, S. dumerili, in southern Japan, alongside hamachi production (S.

quinqueradiata). It is understood that all of Japanese production is solely from wild-caught

fingerlings, and is largely based on moist feed.

The life cycle of kampachi has been completed in captivity, but there are challenges with

spawning of F1s that are selected from production pens. There are currently no well-established

selective breeding programs for the species, although SNP markers for growth and other

performance parameters have been identified. The reliance to date on wild-caught broodstock

represents a significant constraint to growth of the industry.

S. rivoliana is distributed throughout the warm waters of the world (though notably absent from

the Red Sea). There is a commercial fishery for S. dumerili in the Gulf of Mexico. The previous

commercial fishery in Hawaii for S. dumerili/rivoliana ("kahala") has been shut down since

around 1990, due to ciguatera poisoning, and the presence of cestode worms (Protogrillotia

zerbiae) in the flesh. Trypanorhynch plerocerci infest wild dumerili and rivoliana at rates 87%

and 73% respectively, though cultured fish have shown no presence of cestodes or ciguatera.

In net pen culture, all Seriola spp are vulnerable to rapidly proliferative infestations of skin

flukes (Benedenia seriolae in Japan, Neobenedenia sp in warmer waters). Management of skin

flukes represents the most significant challenge to production offshore.

Kampachi achieves high-prices in sushi markets, but there is a strong market preference for

larger fish (over 3 kg; requiring up to 18 months grow-out, and higher FCRs) and a market

expectation that mandates expensive, high-quality feed (protein levels over 42%, lipid up to

26%). Given the competition from hamachi, the size of the available sushi market in the U.S. at

current prices is constrained. Current prices also limit the potential penetration into other food

service. Traction in retail sales is also constrained by consumers' lack of familiarity with the

product, and the high price-point.