Pre Grow-out Rearing Systems in Farming Operations

Marine finfish production is a promising industry all over the world and has significantly increased over the years and currently accounts for 394,580 tonnes, valued at nearly US$ 512 million, with China being the largest producer (FAO, 2009). Currently, salmons are the dominant species of temperate waters for cage culture. Tropical marine finfish cage culture is relatively new but is expanding, particularly in Asia. Marine finfifsh species like cobia, grouper, pompano, snappers, seabreams and seabass represent the major potential candidate finfish species for mariculture in Asian countries. In India, the production of marine finfish through aquaculture has started from 2003 onwards and gradually being increased by the introduction of several species of marine finfish having great potential in International market. Cage culture in India has been initiated by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Govt. of India during 2007 by introduction of high value marine finfsihes and could succeed in large scale production of Asian seabass, cobia, grouper, pompano and snappers. In order to scale up the culture activities all over India and commercialization of the cage industry, availability of fish seed and also rearing them upto stockable size in cages is the most essential part before introducing into cages