Barramundi
Barramundi | |
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A barramundi at the National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra, Australia. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Latidae |
Genus: | Lates |
Species: | L. calcarifer
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Binomial name | |
Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790)
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Synonyms[2] | |
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The barramundi (Lates calcarifer), Asian sea bass, or giant sea perch (also known as dangri or apahap
Origin of name
Barramundi is a loanword from an
However, the name was appropriated for marketing reasons during the 1980s, a decision that significantly raised the profile of this fish.[5] L. calcarifer is broadly referred to as Asian seabass by the international scientific community, but is sometimes known as Australian seabass or giant sea perch.[6][7][8]
Description
This species has an elongated body form with a large, slightly oblique mouth and an upper jaw extending behind the eye. The lower edge of the
Barramundi are
Life cycle
The barramundi feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, and smaller fish (including its own species); juveniles feed on zooplankton. The barramundi is
At the start of the monsoon, males migrate downriver to meet females, which lay very large numbers of eggs (several millions each). The adults do not guard the eggs or the fry, which require brackish water to develop. The species is sequentially
Recreational fishing
Prized by anglers and sport-fishing enthusiasts for their good fighting ability,[14] barramundi are reputed to be good at avoiding fixed nets and are best caught on lines and with fishing lures. In Australia, the barramundi is used to stock freshwater reservoirs for recreational fishing.
These "impoundment barramundi", as they are known by anglers, have grown in popularity as a "catch and release" fish. Popular stocked barramundi impoundments include Lake Tinaroo near Cairns in the Atherton Tablelands, Lake Proserpine west of Proserpine, Queensland, Teemburra Dam near Mackay, Lake Moondarra near Mount Isa, Lake Awoonga near Gladstone, and Lake Monduran south of Lake Awoonga.[15]
Commercial fishing and aquaculture
The fish is of commercial importance; it is fished internationally and raised in aquaculture in Australia,[14] Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Israel, Thailand, the United States, Poland, and the United Kingdom.[citation needed] A Singapore investment firm has invested in an upcoming barramundi fish farm in Brunei.[citation needed] A joint venture between a Sri Lankan company, Oceanpick (Pvt) Ltd, and a Scottish fish farm has been ocean farming barramundi sustainably in Sri Lanka since 2012, using the deep waters of Trincomalee Bay, on the island's northeast coast.[16][17] The Australian barramundi industry is relatively established, with an annual production of more than 4,000 tons. In the broader Southeast Asian region, production is estimated to exceed 30,000 tons. By contrast, the US industry produces about 800 tons a year from a single facility,
Barramundi under culture commonly grow from a hatchery juvenile, between 50 and 100 mm in length, to a table size of 400-600 g within 12 months and to 3.0 kg within 18–24 months.[13]
Diseases
Though Asian sea bass are a hardy fish, they are vulnerable to bacterial infections like photobacteriosis.[19]
Aquarium use
These fish are not generally kept in home aquaria. They may be confused with an Australian reef fish commonly called the humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis), also known as barramundi cod, panther grouper, or polkadot grouper, juveniles of which are frequently offered for sale in the ornamental fish trade. However, they rapidly outgrow most home aquariums.
As food
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2021) |
Barramundi have a mild flavour and a white, flaky flesh, with varying amount of body fat.
Barramundi are a favourite food of the region's apex predator, saltwater crocodiles, which have been known to take them from unwary fishermen.[20]
Australian cuisine
In Australia, such is the demand for the fish that a substantial amount of barramundi consumed there is actually imported. This has placed economic pressure on Australian producers, both fishers and farmers, whose costs are greater due to remoteness of many of the farming and fishing sites, as well as stringent environmental and food safety standards placed on them by government. While country-of-origin labelling has given consumers greater certainty over the origins of their barramundi at the retail level, no requirement exists for the food service and restaurant trades to label the origins of their barramundi.
Bengali cuisine
Locally caught bhetki (barramundi) is a popular fish among Bengali people, mainly served in festivities such as marriages and other important social events. It is cooked as bhetki machher paturi, bhetki machher kalia, or coated in crumbled biscuit (similar to golden bread crumbs) and pan fried. It is very popular among people who are usually sceptical about eating fish with a lot of bones. Bhetki fillets have no bones in them. In Bengali cuisine, therefore, fried bhetki fillets are popular and considered to be of good quality. The dish is commonly called "fish fry".
Goan cuisine
Locally caught chonak (barramundi) is a favourite food, prepared with either recheado (a Goan red masala) or coated with rava (sooji, semolina)[21] and pan fried. The fish is generally filleted on the diagonal. It is eaten as a snack or as an accompaniment to drinks or the main course. It is one of the more expensive fish available.
Thai cuisine
Barramundi from local fish farms are known as pla kapong (
United States
In the US, barramundi is growing in popularity. Monterey Bay Aquarium has deemed US and Vietnam-raised barramundi as "Best Choice" under the Seafood Watch sustainability program.[24]
See also
- Japanese lates, also known as Japanese barramundi
- Nile perch, also known as African barramundi
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Lates calcarifer" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
- ^ Yokose, Hiroyuki. "Aboriginal Words in Australian English" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2006.
- ^ Frumkin, Paul (2003). "Barramundi approval rating rise". Food & Beverage Industry. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ a b "Australia's Arrow Fish, Saratoga (The True Barramundi)". Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
- PMID 25674617.
- ^ Pierce, Charles (26 November 2006). "The Next Big Fish – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe Magazine. Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Common Names Summary – Lates calcarifer". fishbase.se.
- . Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ISBN 0-7307-5486-3. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ISBN 0-7307-5486-3. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ISBN 0866229361. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ a b "FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER No. 127" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
- ^ a b Gomon, Martin. "Barramundi, Lates calcarifer". Fishes of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Fish stocked dams and weirs search". Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Holmyard, Nicki (September 2022). "Oceanpick Celebrates a Decade in Sri Lanka". The Fish Site. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Sustainable Fish Farming on Sri Lanka". PUM. 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ Oatman, Maddie (January 2017). "A Fish Out of Water". Mother Jones. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- PMID 34186149.
- ^ Garrick, Matt (25 March 2019). "Crocodile steals massive barramundi from NT fisherman at the last possible second". ABC News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ Oulton, R (2007) [First published 2005]. "Sooji". Cooks Info. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Fishing in Thailand Archived 2009-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ruen Urai, Thai cuisine Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Giant perch". www.seafoodwatch.org. Seafood Watch. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
External links
- Underwater footage of wild barramundi on YouTube
- Fisheries Western Australia - Barramundi Fact Sheet
- Betting On Barramundi: The Green-Friendly Fish, Feature Story on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered"
- Native Fish Australia article
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2004). "Lates calcarifer" in FishBase. October 2004 version.
- "Lates calcarifer". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 20 December 2004.
- Queensland Department of Industries and Fisheries, Fishweb: "Fish Note: Barramundi (Giant Perch)"