What is Milkfish? Everything You Need to Know About this Unique Fish

Milkfish is a fascinating fish species that is enjoyed around the world, yet remains relatively unknown in many places. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about milkfish, from what it looks like and where it lives, to how it tastes and the health benefits it provides.

An Overview of Milkfish

Milkfish, whose scientific name is Chanos chanos, is a species of fish that belongs to the Chanidae family It is also commonly known as the bangus fish or simply bangus

Milkfish have an elongated, torpedo-shaped body and can grow up to 6 feet long, though the average size is around 3 feet. They are silvery in color, with the dorsal (upper) part of the body being darker than the ventral (lower) part. The tail fin is relatively long compared to the rest of the body.

These fish are found naturally throughout the tropical coastal regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans Their range extends from South Africa to Hawaii and from Australia to Mexico However, they have also been introduced to various other regions for aquaculture purposes.

Milkfish aquaculture is hugely important, especially in parts of Southeast Asia In the Philippines, milkfish aquaculture began over 400 years ago and the fish is now considered the national fish of the country. Indonesia and Taiwan are other major producers

So why is this fish so popular in some areas but little known in others? Let’s find out more.

Habitat and Behavior

Milkfish inhabit tropical coastal habitats, preferring shallow waters and areas like reefs, bays, estuaries, and lagoons. However, their habitat needs change as they grow and develop.

• Milkfish eggs hatch out at sea. The larvae then migrate into sheltered coastal nursery areas like mangroves.

• Juveniles and subadults spend time in these protected nearshore habitats, where they feed and grow.

• At 3-4 years old, milkfish move out into open coastal waters and reef areas. Here they mature and join schools of adult fish.

Not much is known about the behavior of milkfish in the wild. They are fast swimmers and school in large groups, likely for protection from predators. Spawning takes place at sea in shallow coastal waters.

Diet and Hunting

Milkfish have an omnivorous diet that changes as they grow. Larvae and early juveniles feed on plankton and algae. As they mature, they start consuming larger prey:

• Juveniles feed on worms, small crustaceans, algae, bacteria, and carrion.

• Subadults add the larvae of other fish and marine creatures to their diet.

• Adults hunt for juvenile fish like anchovies, sardines, and herring. They also continue to eat algae, crustaceans, worms, and larvae.

Milkfish are active hunters. They forage over reefs and muddy bottoms sucking up prey. Their upturned mouths allow them to feed from the substrate surface. Strong currents through the gills then filter out food particles from the water.

Unique Features of Milkfish

While milkfish may seem like typical silver fish at first glance, they have some unique and fascinating features:

• Skeleton – Milkfish have a lightweight, flexible skeleton made up of over 200 bones. There are no ribs protecting the belly area.

• Swim bladder – The swim bladder is paired, unlike in most fishes where it is single. It allows milkfish to hover and maintain position without fin movement.

• Tolerance – Milkfish are euryhaline, meaning they can tolerate a wide range of salinities. This allows them to move between marine and brackish habitats.

• Leaping ability – These powerful swimmers frequently leap above the water when schooling or migrating.

• Growth – Milkfish can grow extremely fast, putting on over 3 pounds per month under aquaculture conditions.

Culinary Qualities and Nutrition

Now onto the taste and nutrition of milkfish. Here’s an overview:

• Taste – Milkfish has a delicate, mild, slightly sweet flavor. The meat is tender when cooked.

• Texture – The flesh is moderately firm, dense, and flaky when cooked thoroughly. Smaller fish may have softer flesh.

• Bones – Milkfish has over 200 bones, so deboning is an art. But for skilled fishmongers, the boneless belly area can be extracted easily.

• Cooking methods – Milkfish works well in soups, steamed, fried, baked, grilled. The fillets can even be smoked or dried.

• Nutrition – Milkfish provides high-quality protein, vitamin D, selenium, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA.

Milkfish is cherished in Asian cuisine and cooking styles have been perfected to bring out its delicate flavor. It can be the star of complex dishes or shine with simple recipes like steamed or boiled preparations.

Milkfish Aquaculture

Milkfish aquaculture originated in the Philippines over 400 years ago in brackish water ponds. Today, major producers include Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Methods used include:

• Coastal ponds – Shallow ponds filled with brackish water pumped from estuaries or the sea. Milkfish are stocked and raised to market size.

• Deep-sea cages – Milkfish are raised in floating cages moored offshore. Seawater provides ideal growing conditions.

• Hatcheries – These produce milkfish fry and fingerlings for stocking grow-out ponds and cages. Fry are collected from the wild or bred in captivity.

Milkfish aquaculture is now a billion dollar industry supplying affordable protein to Southeast Asia and beyond. Careful management is required to maintain sustainability.

Threats and Conservation

Milkfish populations are considered stable overall, thanks to their broad distribution and high numbers, but they do face some localized threats:

• Habitat loss – Destruction of mangroves and coastal wetlands removes critical juvenile habitat.

• Overfishing – Milkfish are easy to catch in shallow waters. Local depletion can become an issue.

• Aquaculture – Most fry are caught from the wild which may impact recruitment. Better hatchery techniques are being developed.

On the IUCN Red List milkfish are currently listed as Least Concern. But habitat and fishery management will be important for protecting populations into the future.

So next time you come across milkfish on a menu, don’t be afraid to give this delicious fish a try! It offers a tasty and healthy addition to seafood-loving palates around the globe.