Orange Spotted Grouper, Kerapu Pinang, Epinephelus coioides

Orange Spotted Grouper. Photo Credit: Randall J.E.

Locally, this species were called with many names as in case of other grouper fishes. Kerapu Pinang, Kerapu Balong, Kerapu Rintek and other names.  When I start to get involved with this species back in 1997, the farmers call this fish as Kerapu Pakpanang, probably because the fry of this species were imported from an area of the same name in the neighbouring country. Back then, Orange Spotted Grouper (OSG) was among the important species of groupers that were cultured in this country before the currently cultured species start to gain their popularity among the farmers. However, this species are still being cultured in this country with intended local and export market.

OSG always associated with the coral reef ecology but sometimes also can be found in the brackish water from the depth of 1 meter to 100 meters. They were also found in the brackish estuaries ecosystem especially for the juveniles. This species can be found in the seas of  37°N to 34°S and 28°E  to 180°E which include Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Andaman Sea, Malacca Straits, South China Sea, China Sea and Western Pacific Ocean. There were reports of catches of this fish in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mangrove area at the estuary where OSG can also be found. Photo: Mahmud Ismail

This species fed on fishes, squids and crustaceans. In our waters, the juveniles were found weeks after rainy season were over or weeks after heavy downpour suggesting that the spawning taken place immediately after rainy seasons is over. Some scientists predict that there are spawning aggregasion behaviour for mating time and their eggs floating below the surface level. They were pelagic during larval and juvenile stages. Some other suggest eggs, larval and juveniles were pelagic due to existing of all levels pelagically.


Price of OSG quite stable for the last 3 years. Source: Fish Marketing Organisation HK.



 In the last 3 years, this species enjoyed relatively stable price between HK$105/Catty to HK$131/Catty and the last one week from the date of this posting, this fish were priced between HK$130/ Catty to HK$140/Catty. The price of OSG was much below then our other popular species such as GG, TG, MG and Coral Trout, but always higher than GGG. In the local live fish markets, the ex-farm price were  species still remain good especially for live seafood markets. For me, should the demand for OSG getting bigger and the price is better, or we able to reduce the production costs (with better FCR, genetically improved fry),  this species is the choice for our local aquaculture industry. The researchers from this region has shown their innovation when they manage to mass produce the hybrid of TG and GG in the last few years. Why not do something on this species too? Perhaps an hybrid between OSG with GG?