WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 71 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 72) and diseases (Young et al. 2021ab). Moreover, larviculture in Saudi Arabia faces several challenges, such as extreme salinity and high water temperatures (Young and Shaikhi 2022). Most of the coastlines’ marine fish hatcheries and broodstock holdings have experienced expansion, especially for sobaity seabream, pompano, grouper (Epinephelus spp.), and red mangrove snapper. However, the conditions and quantities of broodstock for most species remain insufficient for commercialization. Consequently, there is a reliance on imported eggs and fingerlings and a failure to produce juveniles locally. As reported aquaculture production report came from Bahrain in 1995, with an estimated volume of 4 metric tons (FAO 2024). Other countries that have produced sobaity seabream include Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Saudi Arabia’s aquaculture production of sobaity seabream currently has an estimated volume of 200 tons (FAO 2024). Current issues The Saudi Arabian aquaculture industry has been facing many issues regarding the lack of a broader selection of aquaculture species, the absence or limited capacity of local hatchery facilities, FIGURE 3. Sobaity seabream products from a local company. Source: Benjamin C. Young. FIGURE 4. Sobaity seabream educational material from a local company. Source: Benjamin C. Young. FIGURE 5. Production trials of sobaity seabream by a local company. Source: Petros Thomas. FIGURE 6. Marine finfish products from a local Saudi Arabian company. Source: Petros Thomas.
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