GROUPER CULTURE IN FLOATING NET-CAGES

AT LAMPUNG NATIONAL SEFARMING CENTER

By :
BUDI KURNIA1) AND JUN MATSUOKA2)

MINISTRY OF MARINE AFFAIR AND FISHERIES

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF AQUACULTURE
MAIN CENTER FOR MARICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
LAMPUNG, INDONESIA
2006

1) Technical staff of MCMD Lampung, hikamkurnia@plasa.com

2) JICA mariculture expert

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 GROUPER CULTURE IN FLOATING NET-CAGES
AT LAMPUNG NATIONAL SEFARMING CENTER
By :
Budi Kurnia And Jun Matsuoka

ABSTRACT

Lampung National Seafarming Development Center (NSDC) has succeded

performing grouper culture from nursery to growth out stage at floating netcages at
Hurun Bay, Lampung Province. The technology has adapted in farmers at Lampung Bay
coastal waters and has increasing significantly from only 12 units in 1998 to more than
800 units at 2005. Two species of grouper; Tiger Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
and Humpback grouper or Grace Kelly (Cromileptes altivelis) cultured in floating net-
cages for about 9-10 months and 16-18 months. Fish at nursery and young fish were
reared using happa net with mesh size 4 mm and poly ethylene (PE) net with mesh size
0.75 inches, respectively. It sizes was 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m, while for grow out fish was 3 m
x 3 m x 3 m with mesh size 1-1.5 inches. Fish stocking density was 150 – 200 fishes/m2
for animal until 9-12 cm/ind. total length, 75-100 fishes/m2 for cultured-fish until 15-17
cm/ind. total length and 40-50 fishes/m2 for marketable size or 500 g/ind. Fish was feed
with fresh fish meat and or commercial feeds with dosage adlibitum. Feed was given 3-4
times per day for 15-200 g body weight/fish and 1-2 times a day for bigger fish. Pellet
protein content was about 44-50%. Feed supplement such as vitamin C and
multivitamins were also given with dosage 2-3 g/kg feed, with frequency was 2-3 times a
week. Survival rate for Tiger Grouper was 80 – 90 % and Humpback Grouper was 50 -
90%. Economically, Humpback grouper more profitable than Tiger Grouper.

Key words : Tiger Grouper, Humpback grouper,Floating Net Cages, profitable.

INTRODUCTION
Marine culture is the subject programme of ministry of Marine and Fisheries
Affair, Republic of Indonesia. The programme are included grouper culture both Tiger
Grouper (Epinephellus fuscoguttatus) and Humpback grouper (Cromileptis altivelis.
National Seafarming Development Center which are the main institution in marine
culture has succeded to perform grouper culture technology especially in floating net
cages since 1997. The technology has been applied at local farmers in Lampung Bay
coastal waters and reached more than 800 units of FNC in 2005 from only 8 unit in 1998.

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 Groupers, Tiger (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and Humpback grouper (Cromileptes
altivelis ) are the marine finfish economical species which has high value and big market
prospect both local and export to Asian countries, such as Hongkong, China and Taiwan.
At present, world animal protein demand has been always increased while at the same
time world fish total production especially catching fisheries has over exploitation.
Meanwhile, cultured-fish market demand has also high. So, some Indonesia waters area
has been developed marine fish culture in floating net-cages, especially in bay coastal
waters area.
The technology of grouper culture in floating netcages is a simple one which
included all facilities and infrastructure, seeds, feeds, aquaculture management and
economical analysis. Besides of those species, the national seafarming development
center Lampung has been developing in giant grouper and marbled grouper culture.

HOLDING FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Holding Facilities
Floating net-cages
The main facility for grouper culture is floating net-cages. Its size is usually 8 m x
8 m and is divided in to 4 blocks, that is made from woods, bamboo, coconut tree or
galvanized iron. The floating net-cage frame is completed with floaters/bouyoance. The
floater is made from iron drum, plastic drum or styrofoam and its volume is about 200
l/pcs. It is tied with 0.8 cm diameter poly ethylene roof. The floating net-cage is also
completed with woods to assure worker safety. Floating net-cage is stationed with anchor
and every one unit is needed 4 anchors with 40-50 kg weight/pcs. The anchors is tied
with 24 mm diameter PE roof and the rope which its long about three times the water
depth.

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 8m

8m

Picture 1. The floating netcages Frame

Net-cages
The material of net cages are plastic material for happa net and poly ethylene (PE)
for larger net. The size of happa net is 1 X 1 X 1.5 m with 4 mm of diameter. The Poly
ethylene net size is 3 X 3 X 3 m with 0.75 to 1.5 inch of diameter. The using of those
nets are depend on fish stage.
Young fish (Juvenile) (from 5-7 cm/fish until 9-12 cm/fish total length) is reared
at 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m happa net. Then, from 9-12 cm/fish of length until marketable size
are reared at bigger net-cage i.e. 3 m x 3 m x 3 m with varian size from 0.75 to 1.5 inch
of mesh size.

Working equipment
Some working equipment is needed such as one unit aerator, compressor, scope-
net, basin, feed container, sprayer, balance, simple office equipment such as book, ruler
and ballpoint etc.

Infrastructure
Beside the main holding facility and working equipment, there are also important
support infrastructure are needed such as working house, wooden boat, cool box/freezer,
generator electricity and communication apparatus.
GROUPER CULTURE TECHNIQUES

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Seeds
Good quality of grouper seed is very important to be used in grouper culture. It
main that the fish is healthy, normal body form and growth rate. The source of seeds was
two kinds ; hatchery seeds and catching seeds. Hatchery seeds is better than catching
seeds because of similar body form, similar ages and commercial feeds acceptable.

Stage
Nursery and Post Nursery
The nursery stage, fish was reared in 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m happa net/net-cage until
9 – 12 cm/pcs total length. And fish stocking density was about 150-200 pcs/happa-net.
Tiger grouper was reared as long as 2 months and humpback grouper 3-4 months.
After the animal reached 15 - 17 cm/pcs total length (50 – 75 g/fish weight),
happa net was changed with net-cage mesh size 0.75 inch and fish stocking density was
about 75 – 100 fishes/net-cage. At this stage cultured-fish was feed with fresh fish and or
pellet. Feeding frequency was about 3-4 times/day and feed was given adlibitum. Feed
supplement was also added with Vitamin C and Multivitamin with dosage 2-3 g/kg feed,
2-3 times/week. At post nursery stage, tiger grouper was reared as long as 2-3 months
and 6-7 months for humpback grouper.

Grow Out
Cultured-fish size in growth out stage was about 50-75 g/fish or bigger and was
reared in 3 m x 3 m x 3 m net-cage mesh size 0.75-1.5 inch. Fish was also feed with
trash fish and or pellet with feeding frequency 1 - 2 times/day and added Vitamin C and
Multivitamin with dosage 2-3 g/kg feed, 2-3 times/week. Fish stocking density was about
50-75 fishes/m². The tiger grouper was reared as long as 5-7 months and 9-11 months for
humpback grouper.

Feeds and Feeding

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 Fresh fish was the main feeds for grouper culture. More than 80% farmers of
grouper culture in Lampung Coastal Bay using fresh fish as a main feeds. Fresh fis has
low price, good growth rate of fish and still easy to find (good avaibility yet). But fresh
fish needs more facilities such as freezer or cool box for making fresh and year after year,
the avaibility is more harder because of competition with human needed and fish meal
factory.
The alternative feeds was commercial feeds. It’s easy to feed, good avaibility
(continuity) and long life durability. But, commercial feeds are high price feeds and
relatively lower growth rate than fresh fish for grouper.
Fish feeding frequency are depended on fish stage of grouper. Both tiger and
humpback grouper had similar habit in feeding. The feeding frequency of nursery stage
were 3-4 times a day at 07.00 ; 10.00 a.m. and 02.00 ; 04.00 p.m. Meanwhile, at post
nursery stage 3 times a day and growth out stage 1-2 times a day depend on fish size.
The dosage of feeds were ad libitum.

Aquaculture Management
Grading
Grading is once important factor to avoid or reduce fish mortality and competition
in food again once fish to another. Bigger fish should be separated from the small once.
It is very serious for very carnivorous fish like tiger grouper. Grading is done when the
fish size is very differentand ussualy at the earlier stage.

Net Excahage
Good water media circulation is also urgent in grouper culture. It is to make
healthy fish and reduce from disease attack. Net exchange was done every 7-10 days for
happa net while net-cage was every 2-4 weeks depend on the net condition. The net-cage
was dried under sun light and cleaned with sprayer or brush.

Fish Health Management

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 Healthy fish is very important in floating net-cage culture. It could be done
through such as good quality and cleaned water environment, and enhance fish stamina
with additional feed supplement (Vitamin C and Multivitamin).
Beside that, fish health management could be routinely applied with disinfectant
for fish parasite. Some chemical are useful for fish bathing i.e. formalin, 30 ppm for 30
minutes, acriflavine 10 ppm for 1 hour, hydrogen hydroxide (H2O2), 30 ppm for 30
minutes or other materials according to kind of fish disease and that is not prohibited.
Fish was regularly conducted fresh water bathing every 10-14 days or depend on fish
condition. Fish handling must be done carefully to reduce stress fish.

Harvest
Cultured- grouper is usually harvested after the fish weight reached 500 g/fish or
more. The tiger grouper harvest is could be done after the fish is reared as long as 9-12
months and 16 - 19 months for humpback grouper.
There are two ways of fish harvest. The first is partial harvest, It is usually done
when the fish size is varies and depend on market demand. The second once is total
harvest. It is worked when the fish size is homogen.
According to work experiences, the survival rate of tiger grouper culture was
about 80-90% and humpback grouper was 50 – 90 %. The main problem in tiger grouper
culture were cannibalism when ealier stage, deformity and the market prices tended to
decrease day by day. Meanwhile, the humpback grouper culture problem were deformity,
lower growth rate of fish and virus attack like VNN. That’s why the survival rate is very
unstable because of virus attack like VNN.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

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 Simply, grouper culture in floating net-cages economic analysis is presented at
table 1 for humpback grouper and table 2 for tiger grouper..
Humpback Grouper
Table 1. Humpback grouper culture economics analysis.
No. Item Marks Value Total Value
(US $) (US $)
1. In put - Floating net-cages, 3 units 800,- 2,400.-
- Happa net, 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m, 72 pcs 5,- 360.-
- Net-cages, 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m, 72 pcs 30,- 2,160,-
- Net-cages, 3 m x 3 m x 3 m, 18 pcs 80,- 1,440.-
- House, 1 unit 500,- 500,-
- Wooden boat, 1 unit 500,- 500.-
- Working equipment 500,- 500.-
- Seed, 10 cm/fish total length, 7,200 pcs 1.25,- 9,000.-
- Feed, 21,000 kg 0.3,- 6.300.-
- Vitamin 500,- 500.-
- Medicine 300,- 300.-
- Boat exploitation 600,- 600.-
- Salary, 5 workers, 18 months 50,- 4500.-
- Contengency 500,- 500.-

Total in put 29,560.-

2. Out put - SR, 50 % = 3,600 pcs
- Harvest size = 500 g/pcs
- Sale price = US $ 30.-/kg
Total out put = 1,800 kg x US $30 54,000,-
3. Interest/ - Out put 54,000,-
Lost - In put 29,560,-
Total brutto 24,350.-
Tax (15 %) 3.652.5,-
Netto 20,697.5,-
Notes :
54,000.-
1. B/C Ratio = --------------------- = 1.826 ; If B/C ratio > 1 , It is profitable
29,560,-

2. Economic value of investment is 5 years

According to economics analysis that B/C ratio is more than 1 i.e. 826. It means
that humpback grouper culture in floating net-cage is profitable. Economics value of

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investment is at lest 5 years. During that times, it could be harvest 3 cycles. The second
and the third cycles harvest would be more benefit because of it would not invested for
floating net-cage, except for small maintenance.

Tiger Grouper
Table 2. Tiger grouper culture economics analysis.
No. Item Marks Value Total Value
(US $) (US $)
1. In put - Floating net-cages, 3 units 800,- 2,400,-
- Happa net, 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m, 72 pcs 5,- 360,-
- Net-cages, 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m, 72 pcs 30,- 2,160,-
- Net-cages, 3 m x 3 m x 3 m, 18 pcs 80,- 1,440,-
- House, 1 unit 500,- 500,-
- Wooden boat, 1 unit 500,- 500,-
- Working equipment 500,- 500,-
- Seed, 10 cm/fish total length, 7,200 pcs 0.5,- 3,600,-
- Feed, 21,000 kg 0.3,- 7,500,-
- Vitamin 500,- 500,-
- Medicine 100,- 100.-
- Boat exploitation 600,- 600.-
- Salary, 5 workers, 18 months 50.- 1200.-
- Contengency 500.- 500.-

Total in put 21,960,-

2. Out put - SR 80% = 5.760 pcs
- Harvest size = 0.5 kg
Sale price US $ 7.-/kg.
Total out put = 1,800 kg x US $30 20,160,-
3. Interest/ - Out put 20,160,-
Lost - In put 21,960,-
Total brutto -1,800

Notes : 20,160
1. B/C Ratio = --------------------- = 0.918 ; If B/C ratio< 1 ,
21,960,-

2. It is not profitable For the first year of rearing, next rearing without new
Floating net cages and its equipments. Needed large scale to get profit.

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 3. Economic value of investment is 5 years

According to economics analysis that B/C ratio is more than 1 i.e. 826. It means that
humpback grouper culture in floating net-cage is profitable. Economics value of
investment is at lest 5 years. During that times, it could be harvest 3 cycles. The second
and the third cycles harvest would be more benefit because of it would not invested for
floating net-cage, except for small maintenance.

REFERENCES

Anonymous, 1999. Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer, Bloch) Grow out in Floating Net-cages.
National Seafarming Development Center, Lampung, Directorate General of
Fisheries. Dept. of Agr. : 65 p.

--------------, 2000. Tiger Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and Mouse Grouper

(Cromileptes altivelis) Grow Out in Floating Net-Cages. National Seafarming
Development Center, Lampung. Directorate General of Culture Fisheries,
Mministry of Marine and Fisheries Affair: 67 p.

--------------, 2002. Mariculture Fish Health Management. National Seafarming

Development Center, Lampung, Directorate General of Culture Fisheries, Dept.
Marine and Fisheries Affair: 107 p.

-------------, 2003. Marine Fish Culture Diseases. National Seafarming Development

Center, Directorate General of Culture Fisheries. Dept. of Marine and Fisheries
Affair: 52 p.

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