Abstract

Fish seed transport is one of the significant activities in fish farming. The study optimised the packing density of eggs and yolk-sac larvae of Trachinotus blochii in closed plastic bags without using any tranquillizers. The post-shipment survival after railway shipment to varying distances was analyzed to optimize the stocking density. Six litres of seawater (of 34 ppt salinity) in a 32’ x 16.5’ polythene bag with 8-10 ppm oxygen concentration is used to transport various packing densities of egg and yolk-sac larvae. The results indicated that packing density and duration significantly influence survival rate during the transportation of fertilized yolk sac larvae of silver pompano. The optimum stocking density obtained for fertilized eggs (0 dph unhatched larvae) and 1st dph yolk sac larvae are 4100 ± 65.46 /L and  901.5 ± 33.58/L, respectively.