Capture, transport and acclimation of juveniles and adults of common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792)

Abstract

In the framework of a study on common snook Centropomus undecimalis culture viability as a socioeconomic solution for the coastal communities that in turn will decrease the fishing pressure on wild snook stocks, this study was aimed to standardize a specific protocol for capture, transport and acclimation of juvenile and adult snook. Therefore, this paper describes the process to obtain fish fully acclimatized to captivity conditions, either in rustic earthen ponds with fresh water or in tanks with circulating seawater, from fish captured at the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia. Juveniles were captured near mangrove forests by using cast nets with 8 mm mesh size and boats provided with tanks filled with local water. Snook adults were captured with traps or cages fixed at the bottom. The most effective method for juvenile and adult fish transportation with a 100 % survival rate was using 30 l plastic bags filled with local water, injecting oxygen and adding ice. Optimal density was of 30 g/l and fish were lightly anesthetized to reduce stress. Acclimation was obtained by decreasing or increasing salinity by 5 PSU every three hours and applying prophylactic formalin baths before moving fish to the new systems (freshwater ponds or sea water tanks).