Snakeheads - a future food fish?


Snakeheads are a muscular predatory fish, with the ability to breathe atmospheric air, an asset relevant to ease of distribution, where live specimens, in moist packing would dispense with water transportation.

In India, the annual yield is 18,000 tonnes, representing 13% of the market.

Production realises 5 tonnes / per hectare / per year.

An interesting sub-species of the genera Channa is named C.argus warpachowskii (Berg 1909) and can be found in the River Amur basin of North-Eastern Asia. The climatic tolerance of this fish ranges from 0-40 degrees centigrade.

Commonly called the Amur Snakehead, it is sexually mature after two years, at a size of 32.5 cm and a weight of 790 grammes. A mature specimen measures 80cm and weighs 7 kilogrammes at seven years of age.

The fry rearing phase is a little complex due to cannibalism. This can be greatly reduced by sufficient supplementary feeding, with survival rates of between 87.7-100%. An initial estimated hatchery production of one million fingerlings is possible, available throughout the year and would indicate a similar price to carp juveniles.

For effective pond management with high yields the rearing ponds should be no larger than 0.2 ha. in size, with optimum oxygen levels for maximum growth of 5-6 ppm.

Fingerlings of 6-10 grammes can be stocked at a rate of 15,000 - 30,000 per ha. In temperate climes, a saleable size can be achieved in 12-18 months.

Generally, they are carnivorous by nature but adapt excellently to supplementary feeding with products unsuitable for human consumption. The growth conversion factor with recommended feed is approximately 2:1.

Snakeheads are highly prized within the countries of South-East Asia for their high protein, substantive iron and low fat content.

Filleting is relatively uncomplicated, the offal can be recycled for feed, towards an integrated aquaculture system.

A major problem of Snakehead aquaculture is the ability of the fish to escape from ponds, this problem can be rectified by improved pond construction or by cage culture utilisation of unmanageable, weed infested large bodies of water. In areas of marshland with a minor populace there would be little or no social impact.

In conclusion, the positive attributes of Snakehead aquaculture are of a freshwater fish which has good commercial advantages of fast growth, unfussy diet, relatively low water quality requirements, easy processing and a pleasantly tasting flesh.

In a well planned aquaculture facility, this fish could represent a future food source without comprising the integrity of environmental and social development.


n.b This part of the web site is currently being developed and I hope soon to include a wealth of information soon concerning the morphology and behaviour of Snakeheads, along with relevant case studies.