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Adaptive development studies are conducted to improve productivity and enhance sustainability of the local aquaculture industry. To provide greater variety of choice of species for culture and to enhance the competitiveness of
Hong Kong fish farmers, continuous effort is made to identify suitable new species with good market potential for extension to farmers.
Culture trials of Jade Perch
In 2004, we conducted collaborative trials on culture of Jade Perch and the results were successful. However, the fry of Jade Perch from Australia are produced in November to January of the next year in the spring of the southern hemisphere which are the fall and winter months of
Hong Kong. Therefore, the fry have to be kept in Australia until the winter has passed and then transported to
Hong Kong for stocking in spring. This may increase the cost of rearing and transportation of the fish fry considerably. We therefore conducted trials on hatching of Jade Perch eggs in 2005 and 2006 with a view to reducing the cost of fish fry from import. Batches of fertilized eggs were imported from Australia and the eggs were hatched and reared in temperature controlled tanks and concrete ponds. The trial was successful. Altogether about 14,000 juvenile fish were sold to local fish farmers for stocking into appropriate ponds in July 2005 and May 2006.
Starting from 2007, AFCD has successful produced Jade Perch fry with a view to help fish farmers secure a stable supply of fish fry at lower costs.
Jade Perch Larvae
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| Day 1 |
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| Day 3 |
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| Day 8 - first feeding |
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| Fry in tank |
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| Fry in concrete pond |
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| Fingerling ready for stocking |
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| Jade perch stocked in pond |
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Culture trials of other species
Trials on culture of hybrid-striped bass and sleepy cod were completed in 2005. The collaborative trial on hybrid-striped bass with fish farmers was successful. With pellet feeds dispensed by automatic feeding machine, the fish grew fast and reached marketable size in 6 to 8 months. The flesh of hybrid-striped bass has few bones and tastes good. On the other hand, the growth of sleepy cod in the trials was relatively slow but the flesh was tender and tasted good. Fish farmers showed initial interest and considered it a good choice for stocking in polyculture ponds as it may fetch higher price than other freshwater fish.
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| Hybrid-striped bass |
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| Sleepy cod |
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Promotion of pellet feeds
Continuous effort is being made in promoting the use of pellet feed to replace trash fish, traditional feed for aquaculture.
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