LARVICULTURE OF MARINE FISH FOR SEA RANCHING PURPOSES - IS IT PROFITABLE

Over the past 15 years, there has been an increased interest in sea ra nching of local marine fish stocks. In the Pacific, more than 30 fish species have been identified as part of a future sea ranching programm e, and in the Atlantic less than 10. The present paper aims to evaluat e the economic consequences in sea ranching of several marine fish sto cks in Japan, Norway and Denmark; i.e., red sea bream, Japanese flound er, cod and turbot. Discussion is based on current juvenile production methods and knowledge of the biology of the species involved, present cost of released juveniles, total return rate and return rate of thos e released fish grown above a minimum market size, and prices on local fresh fish market. The net present value approach indicates that the profitability of such an activity heavily depends upon the following: cost of juveniles, return rare and the market price of the recaptured fish. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.