Sustainability Estimates of Coastline Fish Hatcheries in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastline fish hatcheries of the leading aquaculture companies in Saudi Arabia for future sustainability strategies. Evaluations were performed on seven marine fish hatchery facilities in 2021. The factors estimated were production capacity, existing infrastructure, main cultured fish species, source of broodstock and seed stock, and range of water temperature and salinity. Six of seven coastline marine fish hatcheries lacked broodstock capacity. The water supply to all hatcheries is adequate from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastline. In five hatcheries, discharge limitations will serve as constraints in their expansion and development. A live food production section was absent in five hatcheries. Most of the cultured species in hatcheries were Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer, Gilthead Bream Sparus aurata, Sabaki Tilapia Oreochromis spilurus, and Sobaity Seabream Sparidentex hasta. Only two hatcheries produced fry, with an average monthly fry production of 500,000–1,000,000 individuals. The source of seed stock in five hatcheries depended on imports or other hatcheries. Sustainability strategies should focus on increasing broodstock capacity, live food production, and new culture species.