“The First Country to Achieve This Feat: Vietnam Leads the Way While China and Japan Lag Behind.”

The expert stated that amberjack fish is commonly farmed in countries such as Chile, Mexico, and especially in Japan, where it is a major marine-farmed fish species, accounting for over 50% of the total marine aquaculture production.

In fact, Japan is the largest amberjack fish producer in the world, with an annual output of 150,000 tons (accounting for 90% of global production) and a market price of approximately 1 million VND/kg. This fish is also a delicacy in Japan and is used in sashimi and sushi served in upscale restaurants. It is favored by South Korea, the US, and European countries, which import significant quantities.

Vietnam surpasses Japan and China as the first country to successfully produce amberjack fish

In Vietnam, amberjack fish is indigenous, and the first experimental farming was carried out in 1991 in Nam Beach (in the Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang) using wild-caught fingerlings. However, due to the dependence on natural fingerlings, the resource gradually depleted, leading to an unstable model.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Lua, over the past time, the Institute of Aquaculture Research I has built a broodstock of amberjack fish with an average weight of 10kg/fish and an average age of 5-6 years. Subsequently, based on the collected data and the established broodstock,   the institute conducted experiments and successfully induced the first artificial spawning of amberjack fish in April 2025.

Specifically, in the first artificial spawning of amberjack fish, the experts obtained approximately 3 million eggs, with a fertilization rate of over 90%. The initial results showed that the eggs hatched earlier in the pond compared to the hatchery by 6-8 hours. However, the hatching rate in both models was limited (over 30%), and the cause of the low hatching rate needs further investigation.

Ms. Dang Thi Lua added that because amberjack fish is a new and challenging species in the field of aquaculture, the Institute of Aquaculture Research I conducted hatching and rearing experiments in two different environmental conditions: pond and hatchery.

Notably, during the research process, the experts found that amberjack fish started accepting and consuming commercial feed instead of natural food from the 18th day of rearing. This discovery presents a significant opportunity for the successful production of amberjack fish fingerlings, as the feed transition is considered a critical technical aspect.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Lua stated that the amberjack fish fingerlings are currently 23 days old.   Thus, for the first time in the world, Vietnam has successfully produced amberjack fish fingerlings.    They are being reared further to develop into fingerlings for future commercial farming trials.

In fact,   amberjack fish is considered a high-end marine species with rapid growth. This fish can reach a weight of 3 kg within 18 months of farming. 

The expert emphasized that as the natural fingerling resources are dwindling, Japan and China have been striving to boost the artificial production of amberjack fish fingerlings to reduce their dependence on natural resources. However, they have not succeeded yet.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Lua, the main reason for the unsuccessful artificial production of amberjack fish fingerlings in some countries is the cold climate, which affects the fertilization rate, embryo, and larval development. Additionally, the inappropriate feed for the larval stage results in a very low survival rate during the fingerling stage.

Amberjack fish, also known as amberjack threadfin, yellowtail kingfish, or Seriola dumerili, is a carnivorous fish with silvery-white scales and a distinctive yellow stripe running from the gills to the tail along the middle of the back, making it very attractive. It has soft head meat, firm and fatty flesh, and a sweet and fragrant flavor. This species is widely distributed in warm seas worldwide and is suitable for offshore cage farming, reducing the pressure on nearshore marine aquaculture.