Growth Performance of Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus Steindachner, 1868) Reared in Sea Cages at the Southeastern Black Sea

Abstract

This study is the first potential culture of the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus Steindachner, 1868) in cages in the Southeastern Black Sea. the wild fish was captured by net and transferred into sea cages. Growth study was performed between October 2010 and October 2011. Sea cage which 5x5x3 m dimensioned, was divided there equal volume (5x1, 6x1.5 m) independent from the other, and the fish of approx. 1000 specimen was stocked in per volume. Commercial seabass feed was used, and ad libitum feeding regime was set as twice a day. At the beginning, the experimental fish were 12.20 +/- 0.97 cm in length and 24.09 +/- 3.25 g in weight, and at the end of study, they reached to 19.61 +/- 1.47 ( n= 100) cm in length and 76.80 +/- 16.24 g in weight. Average feed conversion ratio and the survival rate were calculated as 2.33 +/- 0.21 (2.12 to 2.54), and 95.58-98.59%, respectively. According to the results of this study, there is a potential for culturing horse mackerel in sea cages and fish grow trough out the year except winter when water temperature decreased to the 12 degrees C.