January 8, 2024

Australian aquaculture firm trialling black jewfish farming

Humpty Doo Barramundi, an aquaculture company nestled in Middle Point, Australia, is on the brink of achieving a remarkable feat in the world of aquaculture, the completion of a trial batch of black jewfish, a venture it proudly labels as a world-first in aquaculture, SeafoodSource reported.

Black jewfish, alternatively known as mulloway or black spotted croaker, is a native fish species to the region. According to the company, this species is not only delectable but can grow up to a substantial 45kg in weight. Notably, the species boasts a sizable swim bladder highly sought after in Asian food markets, commanding prices that can escalate to AUD 1,000 (US$672) per kg, as disclosed by Humpty Doo.

For this initiative, Humpty Doo Barramundi is sourcing its black jewfish fingerlings from the Darwin Aquaculture Centre, a dedicated research and development facility supporting the region's aquaculture endeavours. Aquaculture researcher Andrea Taylor has been diligently spawning this species at the centre since 2018.

The black jewfish, recently transferred into Humpty Doo's grow-out ponds, currently weigh 300g. The company anticipates that they will reach harvest weight in approximately two years.

Jason Clark, the fish production manager at Humpty Doo, said that the fish had recently been relocated to their facilities and are flourishing in their new environment.

Black jewfish pose distinctive challenges compared to barramundi, the company's traditional focus. Due to differences in feeding habits and anatomies, considerable effort was invested in formulating the appropriate aquafeed for this species, Clark explained. Notably, the fish also exhibit a tendency toward cannibalism.

Addressing the issue of cannibalism, Andrea Taylor emphasised ongoing trials with varying stocking densities to minimize this behaviour.

Humpty Doo said that this initiative is currently in the experimental phase, and commercial harvesting is not anticipated in the immediate future. The company recognises the need to comprehensively understand the feeding preferences, growth patterns, and living conditions of the black jewfish before considering large-scale farming.

-      SeafoodSource