The world’s first! Successful captive breeding of Indian mackerel

This exhibit has ended.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is happy to announce the world’s first successful captive breeding of Indian mackerel, now on exhibit.

≪グルクマ≫
Scientific name：Rastrelliger kanagurta
English name：Indian mackerel

The Indian mackerel is a member of the scombrid family of fish, and is widely distributed in the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Adults reach 40 cm in length and their body is slim in cross section. Compared with the chub mackerel and blue mackerel, it is smaller but taller. Body color and patterns also differ with thin dark longitudinal bands on its yellow-green back.
Its name in the Okinawan language is gurukuma. It is also known as kunjan saba in Kunigami Village in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa. Recently, Indian mackerel is popular as fresh fish.

Indian mackerel are exhibited in the Kuroshio tank swimming in a large school (Image on the left). The eggs from these Indian mackerel ware collected during spawning season, and then the eggs hatched in a separate rearing tank. The early challenges of rearing were successfully overcome, and the Indian mackerel juveniles have reached 15cm in length. (Image on the right)

Indian mackerel (adult)
Indian mackerel (young captive-bred fish)

The captive-bred Indian mackerel are exhibited at the Main Rest House of Churaumi Plaza next to the main aquarium.
The longitudinal bands of the young Indian mackerel are not yet visible. Please check out how the young fish look and compare them to the adult fish in the Kuroshio tank.
(※Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animals.)

Through this successful captive breeding we were able to acquire knowledge about young Indian mackerel such as how it grows and feeds in the early stages of its life. This information will contribute to better ways to reproduce and rear Indian mackerel. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium will continue to investigate ecology through reproduction research of marine life and through this we hope to contribute to the development of local industries.