Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) are a high demand recreational and commercial foodfish, targeted by both recreational and commercial fisherman along the Gulf Coast of Florida and the Atlantic Coast. Monandric protogynous hermaphrodites that can reach 90cm in length , hogfish are commonly targetedby spearfishermen in Florid a. Declining catch rates and high demand make this species a good candidate for aquaculture. Currently there are no comprehensive data on aquaculture methods for this highly desired foodfish . The University of Florida has collected Hogfish via hook and line, netting, and trapping to develop broodstock and aquaculture protocols for this species. Groups of fish are kept in recirculating systems that are either temperature controlled or non-controlled, with some groups set up as harems (1M:>3F) and others as grow-out groups.
Behavioral observations ar e recorded daily for each broodstock tank. Harem groups have been established in 5 tanks, while other tanks contain smaller fish for growth rate studies. Harem group tanks are photothermally controlled. Volitional spawning is expected within peak breeding season for hogfish, January through April. If volitional spawning fails to produce progeny, hormonally induced spawning will commence to ensure larval reproduction.
The first step to ensuring successful hormonally induced spawning is concrete data on anesthesia protocol, necessary for hormonal injections and reduction of stress during transport and minor surgical procedures. The anesthetic agents Tricaine-S and Aqui -S 20E (INAD #11-741) will be tested on individual fish at or near the size of broodstock animals to determine effective dosages. Fish (n=40) will be exposed to one of the following: 100 , 125, 150 mg/L for Tricaine-S, and 5, 10, and 20mg/L for Aqui-S 20E. Up to five fish per treatment dose will be used to obtain adequate statistical power. Anesthetic and d ose effectiveness will be based on the time required for anesthesia induction, level of anesthesia achieved according to a common scheme (Sedation, Anesthesia, Surgical Anesthesia, and Death), and recovery time. An effective dose will allow handling of broodfish for 30-60 seconds without adverse effects and can be applied to any future situation where Hogfish are to be handled and kept alive.