ABSTRACT
Grouper (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae) aquaculture supports the production of high-value species that are particularly in demand for live fish markets and restaurants in Asia. Although there has been substantial research effort into grouper aquaculture in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, the bulk of grouper aquaculture is undertaken in Asia with three countries (China, Taiwan and Indonesia) contributing 95% of reported global production. Production is supported partly by the capture of juvenile fish from the wild, and increasingly from hatchery production. Grow-out is primarily undertaken in sea cages in inshore coastal areas. Despite considerable research effort being expended on assessing the nutritional requirements of groupers, and the availability of pellet feeds suitable for groupers, commercial grouper aquaculture generally relies on low-value or ‘trash’ fish for feed. Grouper aquaculture mainly targets the high-value live reef food fish markets in China and Hong Kong. A recent innovation in grouper aquaculture is the development of hybrid groupers, mostly within the genus Epinephelus, which are reported to grow faster and be more resilient in culture than the parent species. Several studies have identified the important socio-economic contribution that grouper aquaculture makes to coastal communities where it is practised.
