Induced Volitional Spawning and Larval Rearing of Pinfish

Abstract

Aquaculture of marine baitfish is still in its infancy. Induced spawning of marine baitfish species has the potential to supplement this seasonal capture fishery and offer a consistent supply to anglers. The pinfish Lagodon rhomboides has been identified as a species with potential for commercial production, yet few studies have focused on the induced spawning and larval rearing of this baitfish. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using Ovaprim, composed of a salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (sGnRHa) and a dopamine antagonist (domperidone), to induce volitional spawning in pinfish. Additionally, a preliminary larval feeding regime was investigated, and growth and development of pinfish larvae were documented. A single dose of 0.50 mL of Ovaprim per kilogram of fish (sGnRHa: 20 μg/mL; domperidone: 10 mg/mL) was sufficient to induce volitional spawning 36–48 h after intraperitoneal injection of female pinfish. Observed fecundity was 2,565 eggs/female (13.1 eggs/g), and larval survival ranged from 10% to 117% through 33 d posthatch (DPH). Larvae were observed to have completed swim bladder inflation by 19 DPH, with 100% percent of larvae exhibiting notochord flexion by the same date. This represents the first published study in which protracted larval rearing was successfully achieved after induced volitional spawning of pinfish.