Commercialization of Asian seabass,Lates calcarifer as a candidate species forcage culture in India

Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) a popular edible marine finfish commands consistent demand in domestic and international markets. It is widely distributed in Indo- Pacific region and extending up to Taiwan, South East Australian coast, Papua New Guinea, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal and further to Persian Gulf region. In India, seabass fishery is reported from all along the coast including Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Due to the characteristic catadromous pattern of life cycle, its population occupies a wide range of habitats starting from freshwater lakes, rivers, estuaries and inshore coastal waters. However, the adult fish migrate to deeper inshore sea areas for spawning and as such the early cycle is restricted in seawater areas. Besides, exploiting its natural resources from different environmental conditions, seabass become a compatible species for aquaculture in saline water as well as freshwater conditions.