Techno‑economic evaluation of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) nursery rearing in small net cages (hapas) under diferent coastal salinities

Abstract

Nursery rearing is the critical interim phase in farming of Asian seabass fish (Lates calcarifer), which produce fish fingerlings as an input for grow-out farming. The present study evaluated the techno-economic performance of seabass nursery rearing in low and high saline coastal waters. The results indicated that seabass nursery rearing is technically efficient with a mean technical efficiency of 99.83% and 92.45%, respectively under low and high saline conditions. The mean survival of young fishes was 63.50% and 42.50% with a mean daily weight gain of 0.08 g and 0.15 g, respectively in low and high saline waters. While the benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.76 and 1.9, the internal rate of return (IRR) was calculated to be 300% and 130%, respectively, indicating the economic viability of nursery rearing under different salinity regimes. Furthermore, it was observed that nursery rearing in low saline waters was more efficient and highly remunerative. In the Indian socio-economic scenario, a mean monthly income per person spending 2 h per day was found to be 129 USD and 317 USD respectively in high and low saline nursery systems which is a considerable earning. The results explicitly stated that nursery rearing itself is an exclusively livelihood development activity for the coastal fisher families with an active participation of fisher women. Establishment of finfish hatcheries to ensure continued supply of seabass seeds is the key factor in facilitating wider adoption of nursery rearing as a sustainable farming activity.