India’s success in Mariculture: ICAR-CMFRI achieves great success in breeding Giant Trevally fish

India’s success in Mariculture: Known for its large size, Giant Trevally fish is characterised by its silvery colour, small black spots and light vertical stripes on its body. In Mariculture, this species can grow up to 1.7 metres in length

ICAR-CMFRI i.e. Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute have achieved a major success. The institute has achieved a milestone in the area of ​​Mariculture by making a historic development. The scientists of the institute have succeeded in breeding Giant Trevally fish (Caranx ignobilis) and have done captive seed production, which is a fast-growing and very expensive fish. This success marks the beginning of a new era in sustainable mariculture, paving the way for reliable farming of this fish species in marine and estuary environments.

Giant trevally: A promising species for mariculture

Belonging to the Carangidae family, the giant trevally is a species that has long been prized in the Indo-Pacific region for its superior meat quality and commercial value. Known for its large size, the giant trevally is characterised by its silvery colour, small black spots and faint vertical stripes on its body. In mariculture, the species can grow up to 1.7 m in length and weigh over 80 kg. Its meat and strong growth rate make it an ideal candidate for mariculture. Especially in marine and estuary cages, coastal lakes.

What distinguishes the giant trevally from other mariculture varieties, such as pompanos, is its ability to grow rapidly and tolerate a wide range of salinity and water quality conditions. These characteristics make it a robust and flexible variety, ideal for farming in a variety of environmental conditions. However, despite its potential, captive reproduction of giant trevally remains a challenge due to its priority for open waters, specific reproduction requirements, and complex reproductive biology.

Challenges of captive reproduction of giant trevally

Successful captive reproduction of giant trevally represents a significant scientific achievement, especially considering the excellent reproductive behaviour and habitat of the species. Giant Trevally fish generally inhabit coastal cliffs, lagoons and the open sea, making them difficult to breed in a controlled environment. Their reproduction is biologically complex, requiring specific environmental triggers to trigger spawning. Overcoming these challenges required deep research and experimentation, which was conducted by a team of scientists at ICAR-CMFRI’s Vizhinjam Regional Centre in Kerala.

Team of scientists transforms the future of trevally fisheries

Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the research was led by Mr. Ambareesh P. Gope, Dr. M. Sakthivel and Dr. B. Santosh. The team’s efforts have led to a breakthrough that could transform the future of giant trevally fisheries in India and beyond.

Breeding Process: The reproductive stages of the fish required close monitoring. The first step involved collecting juvenile fish from the Barmouth area using Chinese dipnets. The next step in the breeding process involved careful monitoring of the diameter of the female fish eggs. The fish were stocked in three recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), each with a capacity of 10 tonnes. The broodstock was maintained at a sex ratio of 1:1 (female:male).

To induce spawning, the research team administered a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue to the female broodstock when their egg diameter reached 420-450 µm. The hormone was administered in two doses. The fish spawned 48-52 hours after the second dose. The eggs were fertilized and hatched within 14-16 hours of fertilization. The opening of the mouth of the larvae was noted between 64-65 hours after hatching.

Implications of the success of Giant Trevally breeding for the Mariculture sector

The success of ICAR-CMFRI’s reproduction and seed production efforts for Giant Trevally has far-reaching implications for mariculture. The spawning potential of Giant Trevally opens up new opportunities for large-scale farming of this variety, which can help meet the growing demand for high-quality marine fish.

The economic potential of Giant Trevally farming is significant. The fish is in high demand in both local and international markets, with prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 700 per kg, making it an attractive option for mariculture farmers who wish to diversify their production and reap greater profits. 

Future Directions and Research in Giant Trevally Fish

The success of captive seed production of Giant Trevally fish is just the beginning. ICAR-CMFRI is now focusing on breeding protocols to further increase production power and further improving larval rearing technology. The aim is to increase production to meet the demand of Giant Trevally fish and make farming of this variety a viable and sustainable option for mariculture operations across India.