EXCERPT FROM: R. Pomeroy, R.F. Agbayani with J. Toledo, K. Sugama, B. Slamet and Tridjoko. 2002 (in press). The Status of Grouper Culture in Southeast Asia. Financial Feasibility Analysis for Grouper Culture Systems in the Philippines and Indonesia. Draft Chapter 6 in: Farming the Reef: A State-of-the-Art Review of Aquaculture of Coral Reef Organisms in Tropical Nearshore Environments. Robert Pomeroy, John Parks and Cristina Balboa (eds.). World Resources Institute, Washington D.C.

Full-sycle aquaculture (the use of hatchery-reared fingerlings) of many grouper species is becoming more common throughout Asia. Grouper are cultured at various scales in every country of Southeast Asia - Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Tiwan, Thailand and Wietnam. While currently making up only about 10 - 15 per cent of the total trade, there is an increasing supply of full-sycle sultured fish. The most important source countries are Tiwan, Indonesia and thailand. Grouper culture is also ongoing in Australia and the People's Republic of China, althugh the industry in these countries will not be dicussed here.