Domestication of two species of pangasiid catfish family in the Mekong delta

Abstract

Among the 28 species of the asian catfish family Pangasiidae, 13 can be found in the Mekong river. Eight species have been selected as species of aquaculture potential and two are presently cultured on a large scale in the Mekong delta in Vietnam, Pangasius bocourti; and; Pangasius hypophthalmus. Until 1995, the culture of these two species (in cages for P. bocourti and in ponds for P. Hypophthalmus) were based on the supply of fry and fingerlings from the wild. This way of supply was considered as the main bottleneck for further production development. The successful artificial reproduction in captivity of both pangasiid species was obtained by CIRAD in collaboration with IRD and other French and Vietnamese partner institutions through appropriate broodstock management and hormonal induction of oocytes maturation and ovulation and spermiation. Larval rearing techniques were also achieved on both species. This has allowed the production to increase dramatically from 50,000 tons in 1996 to more than 140,000 tons in 2001 and induced many changes in the culture practices.