Hatchery and NurseryGROUPER CULTURE

Brown-marbled grouper or tiger grouper

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus

GROUPER, locally known as lapu-lapu, is a high-value species with great potential in aquaculture because of its increasing demand in the local and export markets. Fry is also potentially available anytime of the year since broodstock spawn year round (except May in tanks and July-October in floating net cages).

Hatchery phase1. Stock 20-30 larvae/liter in 3-25

tons rearing tanks2. Feed larvae Nannochlorum, rotifer,

Artemia, and articial diet3. Transfer larvae to marine cages

when larvae reach the total length of 2-3 cm (15-60 days)

Orange-spotted grouper or green grouperEpinephelus coioides

Brown-marbled grouper or tiger grouperEpinephelus fuscoguttatus

Nursery phase1. Stock 2-3 cm fry in 1 x 2 x 1.5 m hapa nets at 75-100 fry/m3

set inside floating net cages. Uniform fry size should be strictly observed during stocking.

2. Install hover-type lamp to attract grouper prey such as copepods, mysids, young fishes, and crustacean larvae

3. Feed fry artificial diet or finely chopped frozen or fresh low value fish 4-6 times a day

4. Transfer fry to grow-out cages or ponds after 45-60 days or when total length is 6-10cm

TECHNOLOGY PROFILEMarine cage culture is relatively cheap and easy to run. It uses construction materials that are indigenous and readily available like bamboo. It can be done in 4- to 12-compartment cage as one unit. Grouper culture has three phases: (1) the larval stage where fish is reared for 15-60 days, (2) the nursery stage where fish is cultured for 1-2 months, and (3) the grow-out stage where fish is reared for 6-8 months. Grouper need to be sorted and size-graded every week to prevent cannibalism. Other routine procedures include feeding, net maintenance, stock sampling, and monitoring water quality. Groupers can reach the market-size of 400-600 grams in 6-8 months when 2.5-7.5 cm fry are stocked.

CULTURE TECHNIQUES

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grouper larvae