ABSTRACT
The popularity of Asian seabass as a food commodity and as an attractive species for aquaculture production differs dependent on country. In Australia, where it is locally known as barramundi and where acceptability of the species as a food item and its affordability to the people are high, this species is highly popular and therefore a very active aquaculture industry is developing. In many Southeast Asian (SEA) countries, the popularity of seabass is largely infl uenced by its affordability. Although it is generally
1Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. Email: fgayson@seafdec.org.ph and edjayson@seafdec.org.ph 2Center for Research and Development of Aquaculture, Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research of Indonesia, Jl Ragunan No 20 Jatipadang, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, Indonesia. Email: sugama@indosat.net.id 386 Mu 3, Tumbol Parkred, Parkred District, Nothaburi Province 11120, Thailand. Email: renuyashiro@gmail.com *Corresponding author: fgayson@seafdec.org.ph
accepted that seabass is a nice tasting fi sh, its high market price relative to the purchasing power or incomes of people in SEA countries is the major factor that determines the level of seabass aquaculture in these countries. Consumption of seabass is popular in Singapore and Thailand, where the purchasing power of the people is relatively higher than in other SEA countries. Interestingly, despite being an important endemic fi sh in the Philippines, seabass is not known in many places in the country, even if it is present in the market, and as a result market demand for this fi sh product remains relatively low.
