Aquaculture is the rearing of aquatic organisms (fish) from juveniles to marketable size under captivity for socioeconomic benefits and conservation of wild stocks. The present study is the first report on the culture of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus arabicus) in the coastal waters of Pakistan. The juveniles were collected from the same area and used in experiments designed to evaluate the growth performance of this species in net-cages. The optimum protein requirement for the species was determined (Chapter-2) by offering five types of experimental diets containing 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% protein to fish groups for 56 days. The second order polynomial regression suggests that 42% protein is required for optimum growth and fish body composition. The 42% protein diet was further employed to investigate the optimum feeding level for this species (Chapter- 3). The experiment was designed where fish groups were fed at four feeding levels, such as, 3, 5, 7 and 9% body weight (bw) /day respectively for 49 days. The best growth performance was noted in fish fed at 7% bw/day. The most expensive ingredient (fishmeal), in another experiment, was replaced by plant protein (soybean meal). The experimental fish groups received diets for 56 days where 20, 40, 60 and 80% fishmeal has been replaced by soybean meal. The results reflect that 40% fishmeal may be replaced by soybean meal without impairing fish growth and body composition in comparison with the control fishmeal containing diet (Chapter-4). The feeding frequency is another important information required in aquaculture that would reduce feed losses and benefit the economics of the whole culture operation. The best growth was observed in fish group fed 4 times a day in 49 day feeding trial where other groups of fish received feed 2, 3 and 6 times/day (Chapter-5). The effect of stocking density on the growth of A. arabicus in the floating-net cages (1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5m) stocked at 30, 60, 100 and 150 fish/cage (equivalent to 20, 40, 67 and 100 fish m-3, respectively) was assessed for 60 days. Results showed that maximum growth at 20 and 40 fish m-3 with low mortality rates. From the whole study, it may be concluded that yellowfin seabream, A. arabicus, may be optimally reared in a natural environment stocked at 40 fish m-3 by providing a diet with 42% protein fed four times a day at 7% body weight. In addition, operational cost may be reduced by replacing 40% fishmeal by soybean meal compromising the optimum fish growth performance, survivals and body composition.
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