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Mortalities caused by the crustacean isopod, Cirolana fluviatilis , in tropical, cage‐cultured Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer : a case study from the southwest coast of India
Author(s) -
Sanil Nandiath Karayi,
Vikas Pattath Ayyappan,
Ratheesh Thaichira Bahuleyan,
George Kizhakkayil Chandy,
Vijayan Koyadan Kizhakkedath
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2009.02263.x
Subject(s) - lates , biology , stocking , fishery , isopoda , crustacean , malacostraca , broodstock , cage , hatchery , ecology , aquaculture , fish <actinopterygii> , decapoda , mathematics , combinatorics
Recurring mortalities inflicted by the cirolanid isopod Cirolana fluviatilis in the juveniles of the Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer , stocked in a cage farm in the Cochin backwaters, from November 2006 to May 2007, were investigated. Hatchery‐reared fingerlings (size 8–12 cm) were cultured in floating cages and mortalities were observed after a rearing period of 1 month. The fish were found dead in the cages, with only the remnants of fish skeleton and all the flesh eaten away. Investigations revealed a very high abundance of isopods, identified as C. fluviatilis (Crustacea, Malacostraca, Isopoda and Ciroloanidae). During the first 2 months of stocking, 35% of the fingerlings died, and the cumulative mortality reached 45% in 6 months, considerably reducing the profits from the venture. Management measures for the control of the isopods are discussed. This is the first report on the isopod, C. fluviatilis , inflicting serious mortalities in a tropical cage‐rearing system in the southwest coast of India.