Possibility of the pond culture of Asian sea bass, lates calcarifer in Gwadar farm , Sistan & Baloochestan

Abstract

In the present study, the possibility of marine culture of Asian sea bass in the shrimp earthen ponds located in the Gwadar r region (coastal area of Oman Sea, southeastern of Iran) was investigated. To this end, Asian sea bass frys reared for 7 months including 1 month nursery and 6 months growth-period. During the culturing periods, fish were feed ad libitum by various commercial rainbow trout diets based on fish growth stages. After nursery period, the average weight of 11.05±1.5 g and survival percent of 65 % were obtained for fish. During the growth-out period, the average weight increased continually from 31.4±4.7 g in late June to 252.1±30 g at the end of growth-out period in late Dec. Also, the highest values of monthly weight gain yielded during August, Sept and Oct when fish had the average weight range of (76.9±14.4)-(188.1±12.8) g. The values of monthly feed conversion ratio (FCR) were low and similar from July to Oct and then increased in Nov and Dec. The values of total monthly feed intake (FI) increased continually from July to Oct and then with a decrease in Nov, increased again in Dec. The values of survival percent after nursery and growth-out period were 65 % and 66% respectively. Also, the average of monthly FCR, FCR at the time of fish harvesting, total FI and total harvested biomass were 1.36, 2.5, 630.5 kg and 325 kg. in conclusion, the pond culture of Asian sea bass with marine water results appropriate survival and growth rates so that fish (11.05±1.5 g) obtained marketable weight (252.1±30 g) during 6 months culturing period. It seems that first-half of year in Gwadar area is more suitable for sea bass culture since this time periods results better FCR ( fed by rainbow trout feed) and has economic justification. Also, with regular sorting operation and providing of species-specific feed for Asian sea bass can increase the Production per Unit Area.