World Aquacluture Magazine - September 2020

52 SEP TEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG volume of each larval rearing tank of 500 L. The research was conducted from 20 March 2019 to 1 May 2019 because the climate was relatively stable during this period. The temperature difference between day and night in winter is large and water temperature in summer is over 37 C, both affecting the quality of fertilized eggs. All fry grown at 42 ppt died at 6 dph and fry at the other salinities survived until the end of the larviculture period. Survival rates were 10 percent at 25 ppt, 39 percent at 33 ppt and 35 percent at 39 ppt. During the 20-d larviculture stage, we fed microalgae ( Nannochloropsis oculata ) and rotifers ( Brachionus plicatilis ). After 21 days, we fed commercial feed (120 μm). Among the three groups, the growth performance of the 25 ppt group was best. However, after 20 days, strong cannibalismwas more obvious than in the other groups. Growth of fry in this study (Fig. 7) will be used as a reference for future farmmanagement and related research. Future Challenges Currently, Saudi mariculture producers face several problems including lack of aquaculture species, absence of local hatchery facilities or inadequate production from those in operation, shortage of well-trained personnel and diseases. Furthermore, regulations strictly prohibit the installation of groundwater wells. Freshwater was purchased through commercial water suppliers, so salinity adjustment was also one of the critical costs. After this experiment, fingerlings were transferred to grow-out ponds for further growth (Figs. 8 and 9). When grow-out fish mature, these fish will be used as a source of captive broodstock, which is a milestone for the development of mariculture in Saudi Arabia. This research was the first successful commercial scale larviculture of snubnose pompano in Saudi Arabia and the results can be used as a reference for related research and aquaculture development in the Middle East region. Notes Authors: Benjamin C. Young 1, 2 * , Riyadh Hussain Alfaggeh 1 and IbrahimAl Moutiri 1 1 Jeddah Fisheries Research Center, Ministry of Environment &Water &Agriculture, Post Office Box 9612, Jeddah 21423, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2 Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, Taipei 11047, Taiwan. * Corresponding author  Address: Prince Abdullah AlFiasal St., Al Zummrad, Jeddah 23823, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: +966-054-545-7513 E-mail address: bensimmonsnpust@gmail.com FIGURE 8. Snubnose pompano fingerlings after 45 days of larviculture. FIGURE 9. Sampling of snubnose pompano fingerlings. FIGURE 7. Recording growth and development of snubnose pompany fry (10 dph).