This study assesses the state of larviculture among the leading aquaculture companies in Saudi Arabia, focusing on informing future sustainability strategies. Evaluations were performed on freshwater and marine fish hatchery facilities. The factors estimated were production capacity, existing infrastructure, main culture fish species, broodstock and seed stock source, and a range of water temperature and salinity. Most fish hatcheries lacked broodstock capacity. The live food production section was absent in mariculture hatcheries. Most of the culture species in hatcheries were tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer), Gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata), Sabaki tilapia (Oreochromis spilurus), and Sobaity seabream (Sparidentex hasta). The source of seedstock in most hatcheries depended on imports or other hatcheries. The sustainability strategies can be focused on increasing broodstock capacity, live food production, and new culture species (such as rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss).
References
Young, B. C. and A. A. Shaikhi. 2022. Sustainability estimates of coastline fish hatcheries in Saudi Arabia. North American Journal of Aquaculture 84:442–446.