The national scientific and technological task on exploiting and developing the genetic resources of Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is a project of the National Genomic Fund led by MSc. Hoang Nhat Son - Research Institute for Aquaculture Manager.

In order to build a herd of brood stock, a technological process to produce Malabar grouper fingerlings, there are some expected criteria: transgender rate> 70%, maturity rate> 70%, birth rate > 50%, fertilization rate> 60%, hatching rate to fry> 80%, survival rate from fry to Juvenile fish (2-3 cm/individual)> 2%, survival rate from Juvenile fish to fingerlings (5-7 cm/fish)> 80%. Moreover, it aims to build a technological process for commercial farming of Malabar grouper with high productivity and food hygiene and safety which reach survival rate> 60%, average weight> 1 kg/fish.

The project was conducted from June 2016 to May 2020. For brood fish, it was achieved 60 fish with weighting > 6 kg per fish, fingerlings 50.000 fish with length of 5-7 cm, free from VNN disease, commercial fish 5.000 pieces weight per 1 kg/fish, ensuring food safety and hygiene.

The project has also completed the report on biological characteristics and value of the Malabar grouper genetic resources, the breed production technology process, the high productivity commercial farming technology process and ensuring food safety, standards for brood stock.

Furthermore, it is expected that the results of the project in the building of technological processes for hatchery and commercial farming of Malabar grouper will be applicable to seafood hatcheries, production farms and commercial farms which comply with the conditions of the material facilities and environmental conditions from 2021. The objective of the study is to proactively produce breeds, contribute to the sustainable production of Malabar groupers, increase incomes for coastal fishermen, and also contribute to the reduction of natural resource exploitation and the biodiversity conservation.

Compared with many other marine fish, the advantages of Malabar grouper are good meat quality, rapid growth, low food coefficient, good tolerance to environmental conditions. To be proactive in Malabar grouper production technology is to create jobs for marine fish workers, increase fishermen's income, contribute to the maintenance of national security and social stability in the coastal area.

Le Mai (theo tongcucthuysan.gov.vn)