Open AccessSPOTTED SEATROUT FINGERLING PRODUCTION IN SALTWATER PONDS
Author(s) -
Porter Catherine W.,
Maciorowski Anthony F.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of the world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0735-0147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1984.tb00157.x
Subject(s) - biology , zooplankton , zoology , fishery , shrimp , copepod , stocking , acartia , crustacean
Spotted seatrout ( Cynoscion nebulosus ) fingerling production in 3 0.1‐ha fertilized saltwater ponds (568 kg/ha cottonseed meal, 3.3 1/ha phosphoric acid, 1.8 kg/ha urea) was compared to 3 identically fertilized ponds each receiving 4 billion brine shrimp nauplii/ha as a forage base supplement. No brine shrimp were recovered in biweekly zooplankton samples or fingerling stomachs, and no significant differences were evident for growth, survival or production between treatments. After 22 days mean (±S.D.) total length (TL), weight, and percent recovery of fingerlings from the six ponds was 39 ± 2 mm, 0.58 ± 0.10 g, and 8.4 ± 2.2%. Average (±S. D.) production was 46.9 ± 7.2 kg/ha and 2.1 ± 0.3 kg/ha/dat. Zooplankton populations were similar in all ponds with rotifers, mixed copepod nauplii, copepods, and polychaete larvae predominating in decreasing order of abundance. Copepods were the major food organism for all size classes examined, ranging from 59–100% of stomach contents. Although not enumerated in zooplankton samples, insects (> 95% Corixidae) accounted for approximately 34% of stomach contents of 30–49 mm fingerlings. Soptted seatrout percent survival and production (kg/ha/day) were increased 2.8 and 12.5 times, respectively, over previous studies. Improved pond yields resulted from combined organic and liquid inorganic fertilizers, and an increased time interval for zooplankton development between pond preparation and fry stocking.