DEVELOPMENT OF HATCHERY STRATEGIES FOR EMERGING MARINE FINFISH

The growing field of global aquaculture includes a rapidly accelerating marine finfish sector. A significant production cost of many marine finfish is the hatchery component. As a general rule, the higher the value of a fish, the more difficult and expensive the hatchery and larval production protocols will be. Further, advancement of intensive RAS, high-value species, as well as offshore aquaculture production is all critically reliant upon the production of consistent, biosecure, high-quality, and economically viable fingerling production.  This presentation will address/review marine finfish hatchery basics, various types of live feeds, cofeeding and weaning to dry diets, physical and environmental production parameters, and identification of information resources available to develop and optimize emerging marine finfish larval production protocols.