Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) growth performance in coastal cages was evaluated from fingerling to sub-market size using the ASA LVHD cage production model and ASA extruded, marine fish feeds. The cage trial was conducted at Ling Shui, Hainan, China. Pompano were stocked in three, 8.0-m3 cages at a density of 1,000 fish per cage. Pompano were fed to satiation daily with a 47% crude protein and 15% crude fat feed (47/15) to fish size 50 g, and with a 43% crude protein and 12% crude fat feed (43/12) from fish size >50 g. The 43/12 feed was formulated with 35% soybean meal. Both feeds were fed in extruded, floating pellet form. Fish in all trial cages were fed to satiation, three times daily for the first month, and twice daily thereafter. Pompano grew from 7 g to 349 g in 136 days. Average FCR with the combination of 47/15 and 43/12 feeds was 2.1:1. Average fish survival was 92.5%. Net economic return and return on investment were RMB 5,511/cage (RMB 689/m3) and 90.1%, respectively. Results of the trial indicate that pompano perform well on extruded feed and yield high economic gain. The trial pompano fed extruded feed were reported to have grown faster than pompano fed trash fish, and with a significantly lower feed cost. Feed cost with the ASA extruded feeds was RMB 10.08 per kilogram of fish growth. Cost of trash fish was reported to be in excess of RMB 20 per kilogram of fish growth. Other reported benefits of producing pompano with
extruded feed were simplified production management, reduced water pollution, and production of pompano with a better flavor than those cultured with trash fish.