Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790)

Brackish, Marine, Fishery, Commercial

Breed in estuaries throughout the Indo-Pacific. Maturing male barramundi migrate downstream from freshwater habitats at the start of the wet (monsoon) season to spawn with resident females in estuaries and on tidal flats outside the mouths of rivers . Barramundi spawn on the full moon and new moon, primarily at the beginning of an incoming tide which carries the eggs into the estuary . Barramundi are broadcast spawners that aggregate to spawn . Spawning aggregations occur in or around the mouths of rivers . While adults and juveniles are capable of living in fresh water, brackish waters are required for embryonic development . Female barramundi are capable of producing large numbers of eggs, with estimates as high as 2.3 million eggs per kg of body weight . Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, i.e., they undergo sex reversion during their life cycle. Females are generally absent in the smaller length classes, but dominate larger length classes. Most barramundi mature first as males and function as males for one or more spawning seasons before undergoing sex inversion. A few females will develop directly from immature fish . Similarly, some males may never undergo sex inversion .

Catadromous. Migrating from freshwater to the sea to spawn, e.g., European eels. Subdivision of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Inhabits coral reefs . Under hatchery conditions, larvae grow to juveniles in 26 days . The postlarvae (and possibly larvae) move from spawning areas to brackish water seasonal habitat . Larval barramundi occupy these habitats as well as main channels of streams . Juveniles live in freshwater lagoons, swamps and creeks . As these temporary habitats dry up, the juveniles move into the main stream and many migrate upstream to permanent freshwater habitats . Feed on fishes and crustaceans. They reach 1500-3000 g in one year in ponds under optimum conditions . Juveniles also eat insects .

Aegathoa Infestation (Aegathoa sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Anisakis Disease (juvenile). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Baldness disease in Snapper. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Bucephalus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Caligus Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Callitetrarhynchus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Capsalid Monogenean Infection 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Cardicola Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Columnaris Disease (m.). Bacterial ; Gymnorhynchus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc. )

Habitat demersal; catadromous ; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 40 m

Not Evaluated IUCN 2006

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums; price category: very high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species