PRODUCTION OF MEAGRE IN EARTHEN PONDS

Abstract

he present study investigated the effect of rearing the meagre, Argyrosomus regius in brackish-water pond aquaculture without using supplementary feeding in the Mediterranean area near Damietta City during June, 2017 to June, 2018, Fingerlings of mean length 13.0cm and 40.0 g weight were stocked in brackish-water pond measuring 1 feddan and 1.25 m deep at a rate of 4000 fish/ feddan in a monoculture system on natural occurring prey (natural spawned tilapia) and small shrimp. Temperature varied from 21.0-30.8°C; pH, 7.4-8.9; Dissolved Oxygen (DO), 4.0-5.0 mg /L and salinity, 16.0-18.8 ppt during the study. Meagre, attained average final length 40 cm/ fish and average final weight 1500g / fish at harvest with an increment of 1460.0g/ fish and a daily gain of 4.0g/ fish. Average survival rate was 80% and net production was 4640.0kg/ feddan. The resultsrevealed that the cost of feeds accounted for the largest proportion (68.55%) of the total cost of fish production,then fingerlings (8.56%), rent (3.35%) and labor (12.60%). This is followed by cost of fixed input and variable coast (12%). This experiment demonstrated the possibility of cultivation of A. regius as well as the higher commercial value where better net return (54.48 LE /feddan) was recorded with investment return of 23.33 LE / return LE cost. The results of the study indicated meagre as a promising candidate for the brackish water pond aquaculture.