Tag pompano

After 14 years with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Rick Barrows talks about the importance of finding ‘complete’ and commercially viable alternative sources of omega-3 fatty acids and continuing innovation in the aquafeed sector. 

Since fish consume more feed in the final stages of growout, the development of ecologically efficient and nutritionally adequate diets for adult fish should be a priority. Digestible protein-digestible energy ratios are important for optimizing feeding efficiency in feed formulation and aquaculture production. 

A collaboration among the Center for Aquaculture Research in Colombia, Center for Research, Education and Recreation, and University of Miami is working to adapt the latest aquaculture technology available worldwide to local conditions and create opportunities for farming new commercial species in Colombia. 

The authors have achieved good growth using a fishmeal-free diet for the carnivorous marine fish Florida pompano. In studies, they used pompano as a model marine species in a cost/benefit analysis of two extruded diets. 

A low-volume, high-density culture technology developed through the Soy-In-Aquaculture Program helped show farmers that extruded floating feeds can be used in the cage culture of high-value marine fish. 

Collaborative research in Florida is developing technologies for rearing marine fish in low-cost, low-salinity recirculating systems. Spawning and larval production studies have led to the mass production of juveniles. 

In a trial, rearing density affected the mean weight and weight gain of pompano, although dif­ferences between treatments be­came apparent toward the end of the study.