Technical-economic viability of white snook Centropomus viridis culture in floating cages in a coastal lagoon in northwestern Mexico

Snooks from the genus (Centropomus spp.) are an important fishery resource in the Americas and are a new species for marine aquaculture. Nevertheless, their production potential remains unknown. This study assessed the viability to grow-out Centropomus viridis juveniles raised in marine floating cages. At the nursery stage, 15,000 juveniles (0.8 ± 0.2 g) were stocked in one 235 m³ cage at a mean water temperature of 21 ± 3.4 °C. After 120 days, the juveniles reached an average weight of 43.6 ± 20.6 g. Subsequently, the juveniles were harvested and graded by weight to continue the grow-out process. Three groups were formed for the initial grow-out period: 30 g (G30); 40 g (G40); 60 g (G60). After a period of 270 days, the mean weights of G30, G40, and G60 were 522 ± 84, 565 ± 72, 600 ± 85 g, respectively. The average grow from the three groups showed 0.77 ± 0.18 g day⁻¹ when they were cultured at temperatures < 24 °C, while at temperatures > 26 °C the mean growth rate was 3.07 ± 0.76 g day⁻¹. Economic simulations, using sensitivity analyses showed that 10 USD/kg is the only final sale price that generates profitability with a production of 20 tons and survival of 60%. Our work suggests that the grow-out site should be located in an area with a tropical-subtropical latitude, in which water temperatures oscillate between 26 and 32 °C, and that 30 g juveniles should be used in order to improve survival during the rearing conditions in the initial grow-out stage. The results showed that C. viridis culture could be both technically and economically viable.