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Larviculture of the Mahimahi Coryphaena hippurus in Hawaii, USA |
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| Authors: | Syd Kraul |
| Institution: | Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 USA |
| Abstract: | The Mahimahi Coryphaena hippurus has excellent potential for aquaculture due to its fast growth, good food conversion ratio, high fecundity with natural captive spawns, and high price. Using current technology, three crops a year could yield 288,000 kg/ha of water/yr with a potential profit of US $1,280,000/ha water/yr. Hatchery methods are now adequate for pilot-scale production, and two venture capital companies are pursuing this course. Significant improvement could be made in egg quality, plankton nutrition, plankton substitutes, disease control, reduced aggression, and weaning feeds. More research is needed to learn about digestive physiology, weaning behavior, and the effects of crowding on mahimahi health. Hatchery production is limited most often by the amount of grown out Artemia or yolk-sac mahi larvae provided for postlarval feeding. Problems that occur at the broodstock, hatching, first feeding, second feeding, third feeding, weaning, and early juvenile stages are discussed. Using the current technology, the cost of post-hatchery mahimahi is 33 cents per fry. This cost could be reduced to 6 cents per fry by successfully (consistently) weaning postlarvae from live feeds by 25 days. |
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