CMFRI achieves captive breeding of golden trevally

Scientists at CMFRI’s Visakhapatnam Regional Centre achieved successful bloodstock development, captive breeding and larval rearing of the fish after five years of research. The development is expected to open up a new avenue for sustainable seafood production and boost India’s mariculture activities, including sea cage farming.

According to CMFRI, golden trevally or golden king fish is an ideal candidate species for mariculture due to its faster growth rates, good meat quality, and huge market demand for both consumption and ornamental purposes. The farm-gate value of the fish is Rs. 400-500 per kg.

It is a reef-associated fish and lives in the company of larger fish like skates, sharks, groupers etc. Juveniles also act as pilots for sharks.

“This is a significant milestone in Indian mariculture,” CMFRI Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan said. “Golden trevally is an ideal candidate for sea farming due to its desirable qualities. Given the declining trend of its landings, the success in captive breeding of this fish has greater significance as it will offer opportunities for sustainable fish farming through mariculture practices including sea cage farming. The technology will also contribute to wild stock restoration efforts through the sea-ranching initiative.”

Fish landing observations in India show golden trevally are landed predominantly at reef area fishing grounds in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat. The estimated total landings for the last five years were 1,106, 1,626, 933, 327 and 375 tonnes – mainly from the Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Pudukottai, Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Tirunelveli, Tanjavur, Tuticorin, Udupi and Gir Somnath districts.