Chanos chanos
milkfish

Milkfish are native to regions in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Their range spans from the east coast of Africa and Madagascar to the coasts of India and Southeast Asia around Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, northward to the southern tip of Japan, and eastward into the Pacific Islands. (Bagarinao, 1994)

Milkfish are usually found along the coasts of continents or islands, particularly where reefs are well developed. They also occur in large coastal lagoons. Milkfish are found in tropical waters, rarely in waters that are affected by cold ocean currents. They are found in clear, shallow, saline, and warm waters above 20°C. Adult milkfish also occur in freshwater lakes in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Juveniles are found in large coastal lagoons, atolls, and freshwater lakes. The depth range of the milkfish is 0 to 30 m. (Bagarinao, 1994)

Milkfish have a long, muscular, silvery body with a forked tail. The forked tail is fairly large and strong, thus making them fast and powerful swimmers of the open sea (Bagarinao 1994). Milkfish have large eyes, a pointed snout with a terminal mouth, and cycloid scales. The total length ranges from 50 cm to 180 cm (Bagarinao 1994, Gale 2003). They weigh between 4 and 14 kg (Bagarinao 1994). Milkfish have 13 to 17 rays in their dorsal fin, 6 to 8 anal rays, 15 to 17 pectoral rays, and 10 to 11 pelvic rays (Gale 2003). (Bagarinao, 1994; Gale Group, 2003)

There have been rare occurrences of variant forms of milkfish. One variant, found in the Philippines, has distinctly long dorsal, pelvic and anal fins, and the caudal fin is as long as the length of the body. This variant is the ‘goldfish-type’ milkfish. Another variant, seen in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Australia, is called the ‘shad-type’ milkfish because its length-to-depth ratio is 2.0 to 2.5 instead of the typical 3.5 to 4.0. (Bagarinao, 1994)

Fertilized milkfish eggs can be found in the open sea of tropical waters. The eggs are spherical in shape and range from 1.1 to 1.25 mm in diameter (Bagarinao 1994). The eggs have a yellowish yolk and lack oil globules. The outer embryonic membrane seems to be granular with a distinct, segmented pattern. There is a narrow perivitelline space present in milkfish eggs (Garcia 1990). Development of the embryo takes about 20 to 35 hours in water temperatures of 26 to 32°C and of salinity 29 to 34 ppt (Bagarinao 1994). (Bagarinao, 1994; Garcia, 1990)

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae are about 3.5 mm total length. At hatching, the larvae’s eyes are not pigmented and their mouth is not open (Bagarinao 1994). For about five days milkfish larvae depend solely on their yolk for nutrients (Garcia 1990). (Bagarinao, 1994; Garcia, 1990)

Milkfish larvae go through a series of complex morphological, physiological, and behavioral stages, which last about 2 to 4 weeks, before becoming juveniles. Younger larvae occur in water depths of 20 to 30 m, while older larvae occur near the water’s surface. Younger larvae occur both near and far from shore. More advanced larval stages begin to migrate towards nearshore areas, and are found most frequently there (Bagarinao 1994; Garcia 1990). Milkfish larvae migrate towards shore when they are about 10 to 17 mm total length (Garcia 1990). (Bagarinao, 1994; Garcia, 1990)

Once milkfish become larger than 20 mm total length they are considered juveniles. Juveniles appear to have the same characteristics and structure of adult milkfish (Garcia 1990). Juveniles enter brackish water and coastal wetland habitats where the food supply is more abundant. The kind of habitat, depth, and connection with the sea has been found to be the factors determining maximum size and duration of stay of juvenile milkfish in the nursery grounds (Bagarinao 1994). (Bagarinao, 1994; Garcia, 1990)

Growth and development of milkfish is influenced by water temperature. Temperatures between 23.7 to 33°C seem to be the optimal temperatures for development of milkfish larvae. The rate of development is faster at higher temperatures. Temperatures lower than 20°C and up to 22.6°C cause young milkfish to be rather sluggish, thus making them more vulnerable to predation. (Villaluz and Unggui, 1983)

Not much is known about natural mortality rates of adult milkfish, but the shortest recorded lifespan of milkfish is 3 years and the maximum lifespan is 15 years. Most mortality occurs at the egg and larval stages. (Bagarinao, 1994)

The behavior of milkfish is still one of the areas that has yet to be extensively studied. Large schools of milkfish have been seen in nearshore waters with well-developed reefs and in coastal lagoons, suggesting that they are social. (Bagarinao, 1994)

Not much is known about how milkfish communicate with one another during mating or how they perceive the environment. Like all fishes, they have a well-developed sensory system, including a lateral line system and a well-developed sense of vision. Milkfish are members of the Ostariophysi, which produce and respond to an alarm substance. This alarm substance is produced when the skin of the milkfish has been injured, particularly by a predator. This alarm substance warns other fish to seek a hiding place in order to avoid the predator. (Doving, 2000)

Milkfish feed on a variety of foods depending on the type of environment. As larvae they feed on zooplankton. As they develop into juveniles they start to feed on benthic items. The most common food items for juveniles are cynobacteria, diatoms, detritus, green algae, and invertebrates such as small crustaceans and worms. Adults feed on similar items, and on planktonic and nektonic prey such as clupeid juveniles. Adult milkfish have a well-developed epibranchial organ, which is an extension of the alimentary canal. The epibranchial organ allows milkfish to digest plant material (Gale 2003). (Bagarinao, 1994; Gale Group, 2003)

Milkfish are most vulnerable to predators in the egg, larval, and fry stages. In order to minimize the impact of predation, milkfish produce large amounts of eggs in deep water (Bagarinao 1994). (Bagarinao, 1994; Villaluz, 1990)

Not much is known about the effects that milkfish have on the ecosystem. They are important as both predators and prey of other fish species and of coastal planktonic communities. (Bagarinao, 1994)

There are no known adverse effects of Chanos chanos on humans.

Milkfish are commercially raised for food in the Philippines and Indonesia (Gale 2003). More than a quarter of a million tons of milkfish are harvested every year in brackish ponds in Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. These fish contribute around 60% of the total fish production from aquaculture in Southeast Asia (Garcia 1990). (Gale Group, 2003; Garcia, 1990)

Chanos chanos populations seem to be stable, this species is not listed on any conservation registry.