ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) successfully developed captive broodstock and seed production technology of another marine fish, mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentemaculatus) for the first time in India. According to ICAR-CIBA, the development would open up huge scope for the country's brackishwater aquaculture sector with a steady supply of quality red snapper seeds. 

This species has immense potential for brackishwater aquaculture owing to its fast growth rate, easy adaptability to culture conditions, quick acceptance of artificial feed, pleasant appearance and good meat quality. It accepts formulated feed and can grow to the marketable size of 300-500 gm in less than six months.

The center initiated the broodstock development program in 2015 and after 3-4 years in captivity, broodstock attained maturity. Successful breeding and larval production was achieved in 2019, repeated the breeding consecutively in the next year and produced fingerlings.

The first batch of fingerlings was distributed to selected fish farmers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. “Farmers will grow the fingerlings at their respective farms and will return the selected broodstock to CIBA on a buy-back mode for further breeding in the hatchery,” said M. Kailasam, who led the team of researchers to develop the technology.