FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

There are four cage farms in the offshore of Hsiao Liu Chio island. The types of cage include PVC frame cage, submerged free frame cage (soft cage), circular PE frame cage and submersible circular PE frame cage. The main cultured species include amberjack Seriola dumerili, orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides, cobia Rachycentron canadum, red fish Lutjanus erythropterus and red sea bream Pagrus major. In addition, scat Scatophagus argus, lembus rudder fish Kyphosus vaigiensis, small scal-blackfish Girella sp. and five-striped damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis could be served as additional culture species. The ectoparasite of Neobenedeniasis sp., sea lice Caligus sp., Dactylogyrus sp. and digestive tract disease have ever been occurred in those cage culture area. At present, the serious problem of cage culture is the marketing. The status and problems of offshore cage culture are presented in this report. Further improvement of culture techniques and developing directions will be discussed.
Key words: Offshore, Cage culture