| Barramundi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A barramundi at theNational Zoo & Aquarium,Canberra,Australia. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Centropomoidei |
| Family: | Latidae |
| Genus: | Lates |
| Species: | L. calcarifer |
| Binomial name | |
| Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Thebarramundi (Lates calcarifer),Asian sea bass, orgiant sea perch (also known asdangri,apahap[2] orsiakap) is aspecies ofcatadromousfish in thefamilyLatidae of theorderCarangiformes. The species is widely distributed in theIndo-West Pacific, spanning the waters of theMiddle East,South Asia,Southeast Asia,East Asia, andOceania.
Barramundi is a loanword from anAustralian Aboriginal language of theRockhampton area inQueensland[3] meaning "large-scaled river fish".[4] Originally, the name barramundi referred toScleropages leichardti andScleropages jardinii.[5]
However, the name wasappropriated 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]
This species has an very elongated body form with a large, slightly oblique mouth and an upper jaw extending behind the eye. The lower edge of thepreoperculum is serrated with a strong spine at its angle; theoperculum has a small spine and a serrated flap above the origin of the lateral line. Its scales arectenoid.[9]In cross section, the fish is compressed and the dorsal head profile clearly concave. The singledorsal andventral fins have spines and softrays; the pairedpectoral andpelvic fins have soft rays only; and thecaudal fin has soft rays and istruncated and rounded.Barramundi are salt and freshwater sportfish, targeted by many. They have large, silver scales, which may become darker or lighter, depending on their environments. Their bodies can reach up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) long, though evidence of them being caught at this size is scarce. The maximum weight is about 60 kg (130 lb). The average length is about 0.6–1.2 m (2.0–3.9 ft). Its genome size is about 700 Mb, which was sequenced and published in Animal Genetics (2015, in press) byJames Cook University.[10]
Barramundi aredemersal, inhabiting coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers; they are found in clear to turbid water, usually within a temperature range of 26−30 °C. This species does not undertake extensive migrations within or between river systems, which has presumably influenced establishment of genetically distinct stocks in Northern Australia.[11][12]
The barramundi feeds oncrustaceans,molluscs, and smaller fish (including its own species); juveniles feed onzooplankton.The barramundi iseuryhaline, butstenothermal. It inhabits rivers and descends toestuaries andtidal flats to spawn. In areas remote from fresh water, purelymarine populations may become established.[citation needed]
At the start of themonsoon, 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 requirebrackish water to develop. The species is sequentiallyhermaphroditic, with most individuals maturing as males and becoming female after at least one spawning season; most of the larger specimens are therefore female. Fish held in captivity sometimes demonstrate features atypical of fish in the wild; they change sex at a smaller size, exhibit a higher proportion ofprotogyny and some males do not undergosexual inversion.[13]
Prized byanglers andsport-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 withfishing 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 ofProserpine, Queensland, Teemburra Dam near Mackay,Lake Moondarra nearMount Isa,Lake Awoonga nearGladstone, and Lake Monduran south of Lake Awoonga.[15]
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The fish is of commercial importance; it is fished internationally and raised inaquaculture in Australia,[14]Singapore, Saudi Arabia,Malaysia, India,Indonesia,Vietnam,Israel,Thailand, the United States, Poland, and the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
The Australian barramundi industry is relatively established, with an annual production of more than 9,000 tons. In the broader Southeast Asian region, production is estimated to exceed 30,000 tons. 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.[17][18] ASingapore investment firm has invested in an upcoming barramundi fish farm in Brunei.[19]
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]
Though Asian sea bass are a hardy fish, they are vulnerable to bacterial infections like photobacteriosis.[20]
These fish are not generally kept in home aquaria. They may be confused with an Australian reef fish commonly called thehumpback 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.
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Barramundi have a mild flavour and a white, flaky flesh, with varying amount of body fat.
Barramundi are a favourite food of the region'sapex predator,saltwater crocodiles, which have been known to take them from unwary fishermen.[21]
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, there have been changes to align food labelling standards to food service outlets with regard to barramundi.[22]
Barramundi, known as "Deshi Bhetki" (Bengali : দেশি ভেটকি) are also called "Koral" (Bengali: কোরাল) is a popular fish amongBengali 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 incrumbled 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. InBengali cuisine, therefore, fried bhetki fillets are popular and considered to be of good quality. The dish is commonly called "fish fry".
Locally caughtchonak (barramundi) is a favourite food, prepared with eitherrecheado (aGoan red masala) or coated withrava (sooji, semolina)[23] 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.
Barramundi from local fish farms are known aspla kapong (Thai:ปลากะพง) inThailand.[24] Since its introduction, it has become one of the most popular fish inThai cuisine. It is often eaten steamed withlime andgarlic, as well as deep-fried or stir-fried withlemongrass, among a variety of many other ways.Pla kapong can be seen in aquaria in many restaurants in Thailand, where sometimes this fish is wrongly labelled as "snapper" or "sea bass" on menus.[25] Traditionally,Lutjanidae snappers were known aspla kapong before the introduction of barramundi in Thai aquaculture, but presently, snapper is rarely served in restaurants in the main cities and in interior Thailand.
In the US, barramundi is growing in popularity.Monterey Bay Aquarium has deemed US and Vietnam-raised barramundi as "Best Choice" under theSeafood Watch sustainability program.[26]
