Lates calcarifer
barramundi
(Also: barramundi perch; giant sea perch; giant perch; Asian sea bass)

Lates calcarifer, known as barramundi, barramundi perch, giant sea perch, or Asian sea bass, is native to coastal areas in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. This includes coastal Australia, Southeast and Eastern Asia, and India (Luna, 2008). According to Luna, this distribution is Indo-West Pacific. (Luna, 2008; UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

According to a 2008 study of barramundi from Burma and Australia, these fish may be two species (Ward, 2008). The study used DNA barcoding: the comparison of a particular locus (600 base pairs of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene) on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The study found that there was a significant enough difference in the mtDNA of the fish from the two locations that the species L. calcarifer may be split to take these differences into account. The study only examined fish from two locations, so Ward et al. (2008) recommended further study across the range. (Ward, Holmes, and Yearsley, 2008)

Barramundi are catadromous, spending most of their life in fresh water and migrating to salt water in order to breed. Smaller fish are found in rivers and streams and larger fish are found in the ocean and estuaries (Pender, 1996; FAO, 1999). There are exceptions to this patter, however, with populations of all sizes of fish found throughout their natural range. Pender and Griffin confirmed through chemical analysis that there are populations that spend their entire life cycle in salt water, in brackish water, or in fresh water (Pender, 1996). Barramundi can survive in a wide range of salinities, but must be introduced slowly to a new salinity to avoid shock (Webster, 2002). Barramundi generally prefer to hide under logs or other objects. (Pender and Griffin, 1996; UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999; Webster and Lim, 2002)

Barramundi are demersal, meaning they spend most of their time near but not on the bottom of a body of water. They are found at depths of ten to forty meters (Luna, 2008). In barramundi fish farming cages are generally placed two meters below the surface (Webster, 2002). (Luna, 2008; Webster and Lim, 2002)

Barramundi are large fish, with a maximum length of over two meters, although they are more commonly around 1.5 meters. Barramundi can have a mass over 55 kilograms. According to the FAO species identification guide, they have a moderately deep, elongate, and compressed body. Barramundi have pointed snouts and large mouths, with jaws extending past the eyes. Nostrils are close together. The dorsal fin is deeply incised, with separate spiny and soft dorsal fins. The spiny dorsal fin has seven to nine spines, and the soft dorsal fin has ten to eleven soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and seven to eight soft rays. Pelvic and pectoral fins are present. These fish have a distinct caudal peduncle, or tail muscle, with a rounded caudal fin. The lateral line extends onto the caudal fin. (UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

The scales of barramundi are firmly fixed and ctenoid. Adult barramundi are silver with darker, olive or blue-gray backs. In turbid (cloudy) water, coloration is darker. Juveniles are brown (sometimes grayish-brown) with three white stripes on the head and scattered white spots elsewhere. The markings can be dimmed or may disappear at will. The fins do not have markings. The eyes are golden-brown with a red reflective glow. (UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

Barramundi are serially hermaphroditic, transforming from male to female at three to eight years of age (FAO, 1999; Guiguen, 1993). Moore (1979) suggests some individuals may not undergo this transition, based on a sex ratio of 3.8 males to 1 female. (Guiguen et al., 1993; Moore, 1979; Pender and Griffin, 1996; UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

Color and markings change from juveniles to adults (see "Physical Description"). (UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

Little is known about longevity of barramundi.

Catadromous barramundi populations move seasonally between breeding and feeding grounds. Immediately after hatching as plankton, Lates calcarifer larvae make their way from the mouths of estuaries into brackish or freshwater swamps or mangroves where they are protected from predators. The developing fish tend to stay in the swamps from February to April, before moving into permanent tidal creeks for another nine months. After the nine months have past, juvenile barramundi make their way into freshwater estuaries to further develop (Russel, 1985). Barramundi return to the mouths of the estuaries to breed (Moore, 1982). Barramundi are found alone or in small groups, they may school in feeding aggregations when feeding on schools of smaller bait fish. (Davis, 1985)

Home Range

Individuals are mostly solitary and may defend territories near submerged structures that they use as hiding spots. (Moore, 1982; Russell and Garrett, 1985)

All bony fishes have lateral lines which can be used to sense pressure and to judge underwater currents and localized movements in the water. The barramundi lateral line extends onto the caudal fin. Barramundi have reflective eyes which allow them to see better in dark conditions. Barramundi also have a sense of smell. Modes of communication in barramundi are poorly understood. (UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

Barramundi are opportunistic predators. They eat microcrustaceans such as copepods and amphipods as juvenile fish under 40 mm. As larger juveniles they eat macrocrustaceans like Penaeidae and Palaemonidae. These crustacean prey are found mainly near the bottom of the water column, so this diet also protects juveniles from most of their predators, which hunt closer to the water surface. Mollusks are consumed to a lesser degree. When barramundi are around 80 mm, they begin to eat macrocrustaceans and pelagic bony fishes. Larger fish have diets of around 80% bony fish. Barramundi swallow their food whole, sucking their prey into their fairly large mouths. Moderate cannibalism is fairly common in barramundi (Davis, 1985). (Davis, 1985)

Although barramundi are opportunistic predators (Davis, 1985), they are also a prey species. The patterns present on the scales of juvenile barramundi (FAO, 1999), in combination with the fact that juveniles reside in protected mangroves and swamps (Moore, 1982; Russell, 1985; and FAO, 1999) suggests a need to protect against predators. There are several species that have been found to prey on juvenile barramundi. In an analysis of stomach contents Davis (1985) demonstrated that barramundi over 40 mm consume juvenile barramundi as part of their diet. Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus) (Hitchcock, 2007) and file snakes (Acrochordus arafurae) (Shine, 1986) feed on both juvenile and adult barramundi. (Davis, 1985; Hitchcock, 2007; Luna, 2008; Moore, 1982; Russell and Garrett, 1985; Shine, 1986; UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 1999)

Barramundi are predators and prey (Davis, 1985; Hitchcock, 2007; and Shine, 1986). They help support pelicans and file snakes, among other possible predators, as well as controlling the populations species on which they prey. (Davis, 1985; Hitchcock, 2007; Shine, 1986)

Although barramundi have not been shown to have any negative impacts, as large piscivores, they have the potential to kill off prey species if introduced into a non-native habitat. Nile Perch (Lates niloticus), are related to barramundi and are responsible for extinctions of native cichlids in Lake Victoria after having been introduced there (Morgan, 2004). According to Morgan et al. (2004), barramundi have limited potential to cause the same problems if introduced into Lake Kununurra in Western Australia. (Morgan et al., 2004)

Barramundi are valuable both as recreational and commercial fish, with a high, fairly stable price (Luna, 2008). They are stocked in lakes and ponds for recreational fishing and are also fished in freshwater creeks and estuaries (Morgan, 2004). Barramundi are heavily farmed in cages, as well as in freshwater and saltwater ponds (Webster, 2002). Worldwide capture peaked in 2000 at 74,207 metric tonnes and declined to 57,074 tonnes caught in 2005 (FAO, 2008; but see Webster, 2002). Aquaculture of barramundi has grown rapidly with 1646 tonnes (4,357,000 USD) produced in 1984, 18,564 tonnes (70,720,000 USD) produced in 1994, and 30,970 tonnes (79,034,000 USD) produced in 2005. (Luna, 2008; Morgan et al., 2004; UN Fish and Agricultural Organization, 2008; Webster and Lim, 2002)

Since it is a white fish with delicate flavor, barramundi is also becoming popular in the United States. As of 2006, the indoor fish farming interest Australis, based in Massachusetts, was shipping 40,000 lbs of fish per week (Pierce, 2006). (Pierce, 2006)

This species is not listed as threatened or endangered by any international organization.