Polyculture of milkfish Chanos chanos (Forsskal) and the red seaweed Gracilariopsis bailinae (Zhang et Xia) in brackish water earthen ponds

Abstract

Growth, net production, and survival rates of milkfish cultured with Gracilariopsis bailinae at two stocking density combinations (T₁– 30 fingerlings 100-m⁻² pond+1-kg G. bailinae 4-m⁻² net cage, T₂– 30 fingerlings 100-m⁻² pond+2-kg G. bailinae 4-m⁻² net cage) in brackish water earthen ponds over four culture periods were determined. The control (T₃) was stocked at 30 fingerlings 100-m⁻² pond. Specific growth and production rates of G. bailinae were also calculated. There were no significant differences in mean growth, survival, and net production rates of milkfish between the three treatments. Irrespective of stocking singly or in combination with G. bailinae, significantly higher mean growth and mean production rates for milkfish were obtained during the third culture period of year 1 than those obtained from the other culture periods. Survival rates were not significantly different among the four culture periods. There were no significant differences in mean specific growth and mean net production rates between the two stocking densities of G. bailinae. Significantly higher mean specific growth and mean net production rates of red seaweed were also obtained during the third culture period of year 1 than those obtained from other culture periods. The production of milkfish and red seaweed was higher during the dry season. Growth rates of milkfish was positively correlated with temperature and salinity, while net production rates were positively correlated with temperature and total rainfall, but was inversely correlated with dissolved oxygen. G. bailinae growth and net production rates were positively correlated with water temperature and salinity. Results show that milkfish can be polycultured with G. bailinae grown in net cages in brackish water ponds at stocking density combination of 30 fingerlings 100-m⁻² pond+1-kg G. bailinae 4-m⁻² net cage.