Striped Trumpeter

Other Names

Common trumpeter, real trumpeter, stripey Tasmanian trumpeter, trumpeter

Physical Appearance

3 broad, dark stripes on upper sides. Rounded pectoral fins with the middle ray being the longest. Dorsal fin with 17-18 spines and 34-35 soft rays. Anal fins with 3 spines, 31-32 soft rays. Body elongated and compressed. Body scales small and numerous.
Size

Grow to 120 cm (but most commonly to 88 cm) and up to a weight of 25 kg (with the most common being around 7 kg).
Habitat
Marine. Live around rocky reefs from shallow water to depths of 300m.

Striped trumpeter

Photo: Unknown

Striped Trumpeter Industry Potential

Striped trumpeter have great potential as an alternative species for sea cage culture in Tasmania, where the rapid growth of the Atlantic salmon industry is under pressure from global competition. Striped trumpeter are white fleshed, highly prized for sashimi, fast growing, docile and easy to maintain in captivity at high densities. In Tasmania, striped trumpeter are commercially caught using nets over inshore reefs or line fished on deeper reefs (80 to 300 m). Annual catches have varied between 50 and 100 tonnes over the past ten years.

The projected value to Tasmania of a potential striped trumpeter industry was $40 million per annum in 1994 (Searle and Zacharin 1994). The high level of support from the salmonid industry was vital to the selection of striped trumpeter as a target species. Recent research by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute into the flesh qualities of “farmed striped trumpeter” has been very encouraging and CSIRO have indicated that striped trumpeter reared in captivity have very high omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations in their flesh.

Pilot scale grow out of striped trumpeter post-larvae in industry facilities is now underway with increasing interest from investors to establish a marine finfish hatchery. A business plan for the transfer of the Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre research to industry is currently being developed so that commercial production can become a reality within the next five years.