CULTURE TRIALS OF THE ATLANTIC TARPON, TARPON ATLANTICUS IN EARTHEN PONDS AND PENS

Culture trials of the Atlantic Tarpon, Tarpon (Megalops) atlanticus were carried out at the Research Fish Farm of Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, (NIOMR) at Ikoyi, Lagos. Growth trials of the species in earthen ponds and fish pens were conducted using trash fish as feed.  Two earthen ponds (0.16ha each) were each stocked with 1880 fingerlings of T. atlanticus with average weight of 30.22g in Pond 1 and 34.38g in Pond 2.  Also two fish pens measuring 7m x 5m were each stocked with 75 fingerlings of T. atlanticus with average wt. of 24.53g in Pen A and 26.20g in Pen B.  The pens were made of polyethylene mesh and installed in a channel receiving tidal water from Lagos Lagoon.  Minced tilapia flesh was used as supplementary feed and given once daily at 10% total body weight.  Data obtained from the study indicated that T. atlanticus attained a body weight of 2750g within twelve months grow-out period. In Pond 1, T. atlanticus grew from an initial mean body weight of 30.22g to a mean weight of 704.89g at harvest, while the species attained an average weight of 688.17g at harvest from an initial weight of 34.38g in Pond 2.  Growth of T. atlanticus in the pens was higher than in the ponds, attaining mean weights of 940.55g and 891.71g in Pens A and B respectively. The daily growth rate of T. atlanticus was also higher in the pens (2.38 - 2.51g/day) than in the ponds (1.79 - 1.85g/day).  Total fish recovered from Ponds 1 and 2 were 71.1% and 64% respectively.  Higher survival was recorded for the fish pens 74.6% and 77.3% than for the ponds.  Total fish yield ranged from 756.21 to 815.33 kg in the ponds and 51.92 to 54.55 kg in the pens.  Data obtained from this study indicated high survival and fast growth rates of T. atlanticus in earthen ponds and pens. Culture of T. atlanticus in pens installed in natural water bodies is therefore recommended.  

KEY WORDS : CULTURE, TARPON, PONDS, PENS