We will focus on producing two adaptable, high value species as seedstock to generate resiliency in local and regional grow out industries, the snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii) and the golden rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus). The snubnose pompano is a high value fish with firm, finely flaking white flesh that does not require scaling, which makes it convenient to process.
The fast and uniform growth rates of pompano means it can reach a harvest size of 400 g under 120 days in cage culture conditions. Juvenile pompano are opportunistic feeders, making them easy to adapt to novel food resources such as formulated feed. Similarly, the golden rabbitfish has many desirable production traits such as fast growth to harvest (~300g, 130 days), tolerance to crowding and poor water conditions, and an adaptable herbivorous diet. Because both species exhibit a high tolerance for a wide range of salinities, they are considered hardy and adaptable within the developing aquaculture operations in the greater Indian Ocean.
These attributes make both species a much sought after commodity in regional and international markets.
