About 35 per cent by weight and 50 per cent by value of live fish consumed are groupers. No hatchery in Hong Kong. Quality of fry imported varied greatly.
Imported fry is also a source of disease introduction to the existing stock.
Traditionally fed with trash fish supplied from purse-seiners or trawlers, which become scarce in winter months. These are gradually being replaced by moist pellet feed developed by the Government. Also algal blooms. Trash fish feeding was identified as one of the major sources of self-pollution causing environmental deterioration of culture sites. The pellet feed consists of trash fish, fishmeal, vitamins, fish oil and alpha starch.