Vo Van Chi and James Dominic True

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2018.152

pp. 1240 - 1247

Abstract

Mangrove Red Snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) is a large, palatable fish that has become increasingly valuable for
aquaculture in South East Asia. Unfortunately, the bulk of current mariculture of L. argentimaculatus depends almost entirely on
fingerlings collected from the wild, since hatchery-raised fry are regarded as inferior by fishermen. Wild Mangrove Red Snapper
spawn on offshore reefs, but their larvae occupy coastal lagoons and estuaries. In this study, we examined some of the factors
(habitat structure and salinity) associated with the natural recruitment habitat of L. argentimaculatus to determine whether they
might play a role in the perceived superiority of wild-caught fry. We found statistically significant relationships between survival
and salinity, and between somatic growth and habitat structure, but no interaction between the factors. Juvenile L.
argentimaculatus survived best at moderate (17ppt) salinities, with fresher water (10ppt) providing better outcomes than more
saline (25ppt) conditions. We found also that juveniles grew best when provided with hard, complex structures (rock piles and
mangrove roots), rather than in tanks without such structures. Here, we have demonstrated two simple environmental factors that
improve survival and growth of juvenile L. argentimaculatus and may provide a substantial boost to the performance of hatcheryreared fish.