Spawning and early life history of burramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

L. calcarifer in western Papua is catadromous, undertaking substantial migrations to specific spawning grounds. The location and environmental characteristics of these spawning grounds and possible spawning stimuli are discussed. The annual spawning period extends from October to February but that for individual fish is relatively short. Fecundity (4 varies from 2.3 × 10⁶ to 32.2 × 10⁶ within the weight range 7.7-20.8 kg, being related to the total weight W (in kilograms) by the relationship F = 1.942 W × 10⁶ - 13.816 × 10⁶. The eggs, larvae and juveniles are described. Larvae leave coastal waters when approximately 5 mm long and enter coastal nursery swamps where they remain until they attain a length of 200-300 mm. They then return to coastal waters as the nursery swamps begin to dry out (June-July).