According to recent FAO data, only two countries are presently engaged in snapper aquaculture: Malaysia and the Philippines.Although the industry is growing, “Approximately 97% of the aggregate supply was derived from capture fisheries, whereas only 3% came from aquaculture,” (Cawthorn and Mariani, 2017). Much of this snapper aquaculture production is on a small scale for subsistence, with some larger companies growing snapper in marine net pens for regional or export markets. Lutjanus argentimaculatus is currently cultured in Southeast Asia, utilizing a mix of hatchery spawned juveniles and wild caught juveniles raised in grow-out ponds.

Significant research on closing the hatchery production loop for Lutjanus campechanus has been underway for decades in the United States, but large-scale production has yet to be achieved.Red snapper is recognized as a promising fish for aquaculture, including both species Lutjanus argentimaculatus (in southeast Asia) and Lutjanus campechanus (in North America).The vast majority of the world’s snapper production comes from capture fisheries, with Asia contributing most of the global supply (69%).Depending on language and location, the name Red Snapper applies to a number of fish species across the globe within the Lutjanidae family, and refers to those snappers that exhibit a red coloration as adults, potentially including the following species Lutjanus campechanus, L.

Red snapper fish