CULTURE OF FISHES OF THE GENUS <i>Trachinotus</i> (CARANGIDAE) IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC: PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carangid fishes of the genus Trachinotus have received much attention as mariculture candidates. Foremost among these is the Florida pompano ( T. carolinus ), which drew considerable research attention in Florida and Alabama that culminated in several business‐sponsored, intensive but uneconomical attempts to commercially culture pompano in south Florida and the Dominican Republic from the 1960's through the mid‐1970's. These attempts, however, demonstrated the biological feasibility of rearing pompano. Recently renewed interest has developed in commercially culturing pompano and two related species, Atlantic permit ( T. falcatus ) and palometa ( T. goodei ). Research on Trachinotus spp. in Martinique, Venezuela and Miami, Florida, is summarized, together with problems and prospects for commercial culture of these species.