Snook is considered one of the most important fisheries in Mexico due to its cultural and economic importance; nevertheless, the production potential remains to be untapped, as current commercial production is based on wild-catch temporality, distribution and abundance. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to evaluate the technical and economic viability of the Pacific White Snook Centropomus viridis culture in 10m diameter and 3m deep cages (235m3). The experiment began in September 2019 when 15,000 organisms of C. viridis with an initial weight of 0.8±0.2g were stocked in one floating cage where they would remain for four months during the nursery stage. Once the nursery stage ended, the fish were graded and separated into three different cages. During the experiment physicochemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and salinity as well as nutrients such as ammonia, nitrites and nitrates were closely monitored, and recorded. Performance variables such as specific growth rate, daily growth rate, feed conversion ratio, survival and total biomass were evaluated. Capital expenditures and operating costs were also recorded during the entire cycle and once the cycle ended, the fish were harvested and sold.
The results of our performance variables were, for the nursery stage and 60% for the grow out stage and a total biomass produced of 973kg. Correlation between physicalchemical parameters and growth was determined through a correlation analysis and a direct correlation was found between temperature and growth.
A sensitivity analysis was used to determine economic feasibility at different scenarios and was found at a survival rate of 60%, a production of 20 metric tons and a final sales price of 10USD/kg.