L'élevage du Loup tropical (Lates calcarifer, Bloch) en Polynésie Française. Approche technico-économique

Due to lack of knowledge about the seabass (Lates calcarifer) market in Polynesia, various production levels were considered to develop a managing tool for decision, making relevant development strategy and adapted rearing technology. This work is an analysis of the economical parameters of known rearing techniques depending on various production levels. The comparative study of the techniques, phase by phase, regarding the production cost and the investments prompted us to select the semi-intensive larval rearing technology under the current economical conditions. However, the larval rearing extensive technique could be of highest interest for productions lower than 60 metric tons a year. Growing-out in floating net-cages appeared to be the only profitable technology. Two development strategies were considered, the adaptation of an existing public hatchery and a private hatchery development. The lowest production cost of 3 g-fingerlings was found in the former strategy when considering an annual production of 100 metric tons (28,7 Fcfp/pce vs 34,4 Fcfp/pce). Development of several growing-out small-scale units was preferred for production up to 60-80 mt/year. For higher production, a semi-industrial unit was found more profitable. The production of plate-size seabass for a 100 mt/year market might be profitable. The average production cost calculated from various development strategies reached 480 Fctp/kg and the information available about the market placed its uper threshold to 500Fcfp/kg. Optimized development strategy could be first small-scale units development followed by a semi-industrial farm devellopment. Juveniles could be provided by a public hatchery as an incentive to industry development.