In a significant advancement for mariculture research, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in India has successfully achieved the breeding and seed production of the giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) in captivity.
Recognized for its fast growth rates and resilience to varying salinity and water conditions, the giant trevally is a promising candidate for aquaculture in marine and estuarine settings, including cages, pens, and coastal ponds. This species outperforms popular farmed fish like pompanos in terms of growth, offering considerable potential for the mariculture industry.
“This accomplishment represents a significant breakthrough in mariculture, advancing our efforts to sustainably manage and conserve the giant trevally as a valuable new species for the sector,” said Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, CMFRI’s director, in an official statement. The breeding success was made possible by the efforts of scientists at the Vizhinjam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, with funding from the Government of India. The research, led by Ambarish P Gop, Dr. M Sakthivel, and Dr. B Santhosh, involved intensive study of the species’ breeding requirements, including hormone treatments and controlled environmental conditions.
Giant trevally is a sought-after game fish, valued for its firm flesh and high market price, ranging from ₹400 to ₹700 per kg in the Indo-Pacific region. Belonging to the Carangidae family, the species is well-regarded for its size and is commonly found in coastal reefs, lagoons, and open seas. Initial cage farming trials conducted by CMFRI using pellet feed indicated that the fish can reach a marketable size of 500 g in five months and about 1 kg in eight months.
“The successful production of giant trevally seed in captivity is expected to facilitate large-scale seed production and farming. This species is fast-growing and hardy, making it suitable for farming with pellet diets throughout its culture period,” added Dr. Gopalakrishnan.
Following this initial success, CMFRI researchers will now work on refining breeding protocols to improve production efficiency and enhance larval rearing processes for the species.