Juveniles and adults of some grouper species live in coastal waters and estuaries, but others prefer the cleaner waters of offshore reefs. Larvae of most species spend their first few weeks drifting with the oceanic plankton. As they become juveniles, groupers settle in shallow water where hiding places are abundant. Until they reach a size of a few inches long, they hide almost constantly. As they increase in size they become bolder and move to deeper water, but most species continue to stay near small caves for security.

Because of their tenderness, which has made them a juicy favorite of consumers in Asia and North America, Grouper has become an economically viable part of the Indonesian aquaculture industry. The development markets for live reef fish, particularly in Hong Kong and Southern China, has increased pressure on wildstock resources. In many areas the demand for live reef fish, and the profitability of this trade, has encouraged overfishing and the use of destructive fishing practices, which can also kill many others species of fish. However, with advances in marine finfish larvaculture techniques, high-quality groupers can be effectively mass-produced in ecologically friendly fish farms.

Aquaculture of high value finfish species such as the grouper is an industry of increasing importance throughout the Asia-Pacific region, which includes Indonesia. With its tropical climate, Indonesia is very suitable for the breeding of fish, and in particular the cultivation of grouper. Grouper aquaculture is expanding in Indonesia, with South Sumatera becoming one of the the primary areas for the production and export of groupers.

Grouper Products

KMS Grouper provides the following Grouper products:

Grouper Juveniles (bibit ikan kerapu) Juvenilles groupers are sold by the centimeter at a marketable price. Normally between 6 – 8 cm in length depending on the requirements of the market.
Live Grouper Groupers are sold by the kilogram at a marketable price. About 500–800 g, depending on the market.

Barramundi Cod / Cromileptes Altivelis/ Panther Grouper (Kerapu Bebek)

Distinguished by a small head, a laterally compressed body; Wild fish feed on small fish and invertebrates; prefers to live close to coral reef areas; Grows up to 70 cm and 4.8 kg, commonly to 30-45 cm ( max.size is 70cm); Coloring is red-white on the top, white on the bottom. Dark red spots on the body, as well as the head and fins. Bodily characteristics are a grey base color with black spots. Habitat includes the Eastern Indian Ocean, the Indo-Australian islands, the China Sea, the Islandsof the Phillippines, the reefs of the Western coast of Australia and Melanesia

Flowery Cod / Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus (Kerapu Macan)

The Brown Marble Grouper is light yellowish brown with large irregular-shaped dark blotches on the head, back and sides. The head, body and fins have small dark spots as well as a dark spot on the caudal peduncle. It reachs a maximum size of 120 cm/48 in, with a maximum published weight of 11 kg/24.2 lbs. This marine fish prefers to live close to reefs with a depth range of 1-60 meters/2.2-132 feet. The fish tolerates tropical water ranging from 35o N to 35o S from the Equator. Minor commercial use in fisheries as well as commercial aquaculture, with the smaller sizes reserved for use in the aquarium trade. It can double in size in 1.4-4.4 years. Found in the Indo Pacific from the Red Sea, along the east coast of Africa to Mozambique, east of Samoa and the Phoenix Islands, north of Japan and south of Australia.

Coral Trout/Plectropomus Leopardus (Kerapu Sunu)

Also known as the Leopard Cod. Description A brown-black round, elongated body with black spots all over. Coral Trout (Kerapu Sunuk) is often found in waters with coral reefs. A red or brown body which leads to it being called the red grouper, which changes color when the fish is stressed. Blue spots rimmed in a darker color; upto 70 cm. Habitat includes the N.W. Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, and throughout most of S.E Asia, though mainly in the W. Pacific.

Grouper Aquaculture

At KMS hatcheries and sea farms, careful attention is paid to replicating the grouper’s natural life cycle because the fish do not respond well to being handled. Sophisticated hatcheries with good environmental controls and dedicated staff are necessary for raising groupers from eggs.

Eggs for culture initially come from wild broodstock. At the hatchery, fertilized eggs are collected under the control of a very sophisticated broodstock tracking and family selection programme. After hatching, the larvae are reared in a tank until they reached juvenile size.

Juveniles are regularly graded based on size, thus keeping similarly sized fish together and reducing the incidence of cannibalism. Then over the next few months, when they would normally be migrating to the ocean, they are transferred to net cages in the Condong Islands, positioned in the remote islands outside the Lampung area, which has quiet waters, a clean environment and good temperatures for grouper aquaculture.

In grow-out operations, fingerlings/juveniles are usually stocked in net cages where they are held until they achieve a marketable size of about 500-800 g, which is usually reached between 12-18 months, depending on the type of grouper.

KMS Lampung grouper aquaculture uses international sources of feed for the groupers, providing them with a healthy balanced diet. Formulated by the world’s leading grouper suppliers from Japan, the feed is completely free of any genetically modified products. To create a balanced diet for the groupers, vitamins and protein are carefully provided to replicate the natural diet of wild groupers. The groupers are not genetically modified and are healthy and disease-free. Growth promoting hormones are not used in the production of our groupers.

Custom Processing

KMS groupers of a consistently even size can be harvested all year, providing a continuous supply to the market. Please see our products.

We normally sell our live products with on-site pick-up by buyers. Please contact us for special requests.