RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SCSFRI), CAFS have successfully bred more than 1 million miniatus grouper (Plectropomus leopardus ) with body length of over 3 cm in net cages.

P.leopardus, commonly known as miniatus grouper, is beautiful with bright color, fresh and expensive. This marketable fish has long been imported for seafood restaurants, and only in recent years it has been developed as a new sea cultured species in South China.

Since 1994, Prof. Ou Youjun and her research team have studied the reproductive biology, large scale artificial reproduction and rearing of valuable groupers such as miniatus grouper, areolated coral grouper, spotted coral grouper, etc., obtaining many accomplishments. In 2000, indoor industrial culture had been achieved successfully. Over 100, 000 miniatus grouper fries had been bred into the body length of 3~7 cm during Apr~Jun, 2009, and during Feb~Jun, 2010, more than 1 million miniatus grouper with body length of over 3 cm were bred in net cages.

This achievement plays an important role in promoting the development of new sea cultured species in South China and adjusting the industrial structure of culture. The research team is doing further studies on the technologies of reproductive manipulation and large-scale artificial breeding for miniatus grouper.