This document evaluates grouper nursing in Aceh, Indonesia. It finds that grouper nursing takes place in two phases, using green and black nets, feeding mysid shrimp and trash fish over 30-50 days until harvest at >75mm. Common business models include middlemen investing in farms and profit-sharing. Farms generate profits of IDR 2-5 million per cycle, lifting incomes above poverty levels. Grouper nursing supports coastal livelihoods and uses local pond resources, though relies on wild juvenile and trash fish capture. Overall it provides environmental and economic benefits but sustainability could be improved through alternative feeds.

1. A Technical and Economic
Evaluation of Grouper Nursing
in Aceh, Indonesia
Ujang Komarudin1, Michael A. Rimmer2,
Islahuttamam1, Zaifuddin1, Samsul Bahrawi1
1: James Cook University, Australia; c/- BBAP Ujung Batee
2: Balai Budidaya Air Payau Ujung Batee, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia

2. Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

3. Brackishwater aquaculture in NAD
73,000 ha of coastal ponds (tambak)
Originally constructed to farm shrimp
 mostly P. monodon
Milkfish Chanos chanos farming
Grouper nursing

4. Impacts of tsunami
20,000 ha of tambaks damaged
 another 5,000 ha out of production due to
damaged water supply canals
 9,000 ha totally destroyed
271 of the 293 shrimp hatcheries in NAD
damaged or destroyed (FAO data)
Massive social dislocation due to deaths,
damage to infrastructure

5. Slow post-tsunami recovery
Ponds in use:
 6% shrimp monoculture
 25% shrimp / milkfish polyculture
Reasons for slow recovery
1. Prevalence of disease [mainly WSSV]
2. Higher feed prices
3. Lower output prices
 Options
 Implementation of BMPs
 Alternative commodities

6. Grouper aquaculture in
Indonesia
Hatchery production – Bali
Nursery rearing – Aceh, East Java
Grow-out – Batam, Lampung, Kepulauan
Seribu, Sumbawa, ….

7. Grouper fingerling production
Small-scale hatcheries
 Buleleng Regency, Bali

8. Grouper aquaculture in
Indonesia
Nursing –
Aceh
Grow-out:
Singapore
Batam
Lampung
etc.
Hatcheries –
Bali

9. Study objective
To better understand the grouper
nursing sub-sector in Aceh

10. Survey
Bireuen
 7 farms
Aceh Utara
 4 farms

11. Ponds
Originally developed as shrimp ponds
 500 – 8,000 m2

12. Phase 1
10–15 days
Green kelambu (1 mm mesh)
 2,000 pcs / cage
Fed mysid shrimp

13. Phase 2
20–30 days
Black kelambu (4 mm mesh)
 1,000 pcs / cage
Fed ‘trash’ fish

14. Management
Fed 2–3 times per day
Graded 3–4 days
Harvested after 30–50 days
 >75 mm TL

15. Survival
Survival generally >75%
Lower survival during wet season
Disease problems
 VNN
 Ectoparasites

16. Business models
1. ‘Middleman investment’
 Most common model
 Middleman provides operational costs: seed,
feed, nets, etc.
 Profit split 50:50
2. Farmer investment
3. Farmer group investment

17. Profitability
5,000 grouper will generate
 IDR 2,375,000 – 5,000,000 (US $255 – 540)
per cycle
7–8 cycles p.a.
Poverty threshold is IDR 2,288,228 (US
$250) p.a. (World Bank data)
IDR 20,000,000
Poverty
IDR 10,000,000
Low
IDR 0 High

18. Benefits
Economic
 Profitable business
 Rapid returns (30–50 days)
Social
 Supports coastal aquaculture livelihoods
 Social cohesion – farmer groups
Environmental
 Uses mysid shrimp and fish (Gobiidae) from ponds
 Low culture intensity – limited nutrient impacts

19. Sustainability issues
Capture of E. coioides juveniles from wild
Use of ‘trash’ fish feed
 Training in farm-made feeds

20. Terima kasih