Chanos chanos is a BENTHOPELAGIC Indo-Pacific fish species that is found along continental shelves and around islands of low latitude tropics or in the subtropical northern hemisphere where temperatures are higher than 20 °C. This euryhaline fish can be found in fresh, brackish, and marine waters, occurring in small to large schools near the coasts or around islands where reefs are well developed. It is an AMPHIDROMOUS species: SPAWNERS release eggs in oceanic waters, then older larvae migrate onshore and settle in coastal wetlands like mangroves or estuaries (occasionally entering freshwater lakes), and JUVENILES then migrate back to sea where they mature sexually. C. chanos is especially valued as a food fish in Southeast Asia and also used in game fish as bait. Taiwan, Indonesia, and Philippines – countries that started to culture this fish about 4-6 centuries ago – are the main producers. This fish is tolerant to low concentrations of oxygen and is usually farmed in ponds, pens or cages in wide salinity ranges. Although being able to spawn naturally in captivity, the traditional farming usually depended on an annual restocking of ponds with FINGERLINGS reared from wild-caught FRY. Now farms are obtaining FRY from hatcheries. C. chanos is harvested and marketed mostly fresh or chilled, whole or deboned, frozen or processed. When harvested, individuals are JUVENILES. Thus, farming information about ADULTS are usually restricted to broodstock. Moreover, further studies about home range, aggression, substrate availability in farms, and stunning and slaughtering protocols are still needed for this species.
