Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture (2+1)

Unit 2 - Traits of important cultivable species

2.6. Snappers

The snappers are also an important group of marine fish that have high value in the domestic and international markets. Of the many species of snappers the Golden snapper or red snapper are the preferred species. Lutjanus johni is culture in Malaysia and Singapore.

It has a moderately deep body with a straight or slightly convex head profile. The dorsal has10 spines and 13 to 14 soft rays. Longitudinal scales above the lateral line are parallel to the dorsal fin and those below the lateral line are horizontal. The body has a reddish or bronze – silvery colour with a dark spot on each scale, forming a series of dark streaks in the body. A large black blotch may be present above the lateral line in the junction between spinuous and soft part of the dorsal. The fish grows to a maximum length of about 70 cm; but the common sizes are 40 – 60 cm in length.

Red snapper feeds on invertebrates and fishes; and inhabits shallow waters and mangrove areas besides the sea up to a depth of about 80 m.
The red snapper is cultured in net cages in the sea; the methods for its culture are similar to that of the Asian sea bass.

Lutjanus johnii