Developing Fish Culture Technologies

Coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) is important in the Live Reef Food Fish (LRFF) trade. OI has made significant advances in the culture of this high-valued fish.

OI scientists have developed maturation, hatchery, nursery, and growout techniques for a variety of tropical and subtropical marine food fish, and many of these techniques are being used worldwide. Over the past 50 years, OI scientists have developed culture techniques for striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), milkfish (Chanos chanos), Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), short-finned amberjack (Seriola riviolina), bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus), and red snapper (Lutjanus campenchanus).

Currently, OI scientists are working with research partners in the Republic of Palau to culture coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) and Saipan to culture fork tail rabbitfish (Siganus argenteus). Successful culture of these two species depends on the application of intensive copepod production technologies developed at OI. The ever-increasing demand for aquatic protein from the ocean will continue to drive OI’s innovation and achievements in marine fish culture.

Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis), known locally as moi, has been cultured commercially in offshore, submerged cages in Hawaii. OI researchers pioneered methods for the production of moi fingerlings to stock the cages.