The status of black sea bass, <scp> <i>Centropristis striata</i> </scp> , as a commercially ready species for <scp>U.S.</scp> marine aquaculture

Black sea bass (BSB), Centropristis striata, inhabit continental shelf waters of the eastern United States and are a member family Serranidae comprising true basses groupers. Highly sought by fishermen, BSB sustainably managed with 2018 commercial recreational catch quotas 1,600 1,664 m.t. (3.52 3.66 million lb), respectively. Wild broodstock easily caught adapted to recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). The initiation duration spawning period controlled photothermal conditioning, eggs larvae have been produced from December through August. GnRHa (5–10 μg/g bw) implants effective at inducing ovulation in post-vitellogenic females (>500 μm mean oocyte diameter = MOD). Fertilized (0.94 mm diameter) obtainable strip spawning, but volitional may yield higher egg quality. Most develop as then switch male (protogynous hermaphrodites) after several years. Yolksac (YSL, 0 day post-hatching dph, 3.0 total length TL) reared post-metamorphic stage RASs using greenwater Nannochloropsis oculata enriched rotifers (2–22 dph), Artemia nauplii (16–22 dph) metanauplii (23–36 co-feeding microparticulate diets (55.5–59% crude protein (CP), 10–15% lipid (CL)) 15 complete weaning 36 dph. Environmental optima for temperature (19–22°C), salinity (28–36 g/L), light intensity (1,500 lx), photoperiod (16 L: 8 D). Survival YSL 50 dph (1 g) averages 12–15%. Advanced fingerlings (mean wt. 27 were stocked 16 m3 RAS tanks (103 fish/m3) 33 g/L 21°C fed diet (55% CP, 15% CL) reached marketable sizes 454 g 568 (1.25 682 (1.5 lb) 17, 20.2, 22.9 months post-hatching, respectively, high growth variation. Harvest biomass density was 55 kg/m3 feed conversion ratio 1.1–1.2. Pasteurellosis Photobacterium damsela infections during growout lowering water temperature. Wholesale prices whole-on-ice (0.75 lb >2.0 size-tiered, per pound larger fish. growers target niche markets ultra-fresh product, which garner premium fish assorted sizes. Availability University North Carolina Wilmington's hatchery has enabled startup farmers grow market BSB, expansion will require investment research lower production costs. Research is needed fingerling costs, increase minimize size variation grading selective breeding, maximize densities RAS, biomitigate nutrients multitrophic aquaculture. In-depth economic modeling incorporating latest untapped advances culture technologies be important understand opportunities improving profitability.