The effect of temperature on the embryonic development of barramundi, the Australian strain of Lates calcarifer (Bloch) using current hatchery practices

Lates calcarifer (barramundi or Asian seabass) has been farmed since the 1970s, yet despite its widespread culture little has been documented on the species’ embryonic development and particularly how development relates to temperature. This is particularly the case for the Australian L. calcarifer genetic strain. Accordingly, embryonic development of fertilised barramundi eggs incubated at 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 ◦C were followed from the time of incubation until hatching and the timing to reach key developmental stages and temperature-induced hatching success established. Eggs incubated at 26 and 36 ◦C did not survive past the first two hours post-fertilisation. Development of the Australian strain of L. calcarifer was observed to proceed similarly to those documented from Asia, however, differences were observed in the timing of major embryonic events among the two strains. Incubation trials showed that eggs maintained at 30 ◦C had the highest hatch rate (86.7%). The findings of this study are discussed and put in a commercial context with potential future research to further improve practices at the hatchery level