 Bahamas  Researching sustainable cobia mariculture from breeding to market  Use artificial mangroves for waste water treatment  Grow out in offshore, deep water (40-90 ft deep) submerged sea stations  Capacity of 120 tons a year 

Rachycentron canadum

Sport fishing“Aquapod” Offshore environmentally friendly containment

 Grow to 78 inches long and 135 pounds  Strong pelagic swimmers  Strong fighters and are “Sport fish”  Very fast growing in comparison to other fin fish  Meat has great texture, few bones, and great taste

 Raised for food!  Gaining economic importance in Southeast Asia and China  Good tasting/texture flesh and fast growth make it a potentially good species for mariculture  Has potential to outrun salmon in commercial success.  Grows faster than salmon

 Top five producers ◦ Taiwan ◦ Pakistan ◦ Philippines ◦ Brazil ◦ United Arab Emirates  Countries looking into culture due to economic value ◦ U.S.A. ◦ China ◦ Taiwan

 In Taiwan ◦ Produce 13-17lb market size fish (export to Japan) ◦ Produce 17-22lb fish for domestic consumption ◦ Sells for about $2.50 per lb. ◦ Costs about $1.10 per lb. to culture ◦ Produced more than 5000 tons in 2004  In Puerto Rico ◦ $3-$4 per lb. ◦ Shipped to Miami  In China ◦ About $2-$3 per lb. (~$45 for 17lb fish)

 Spawn in aggregations, release many small planktonic eggs  Eggs hatch hours after fertilization  Planktonic larvae 2.5 mm long  After five days develop eyes and mouth, begin feeding  At 30 days look like small adult  Sexually mature at 2-3 years  Live to about 12 years (135#)

Larvae at 12 days oldA.Late larval stage >6 days B.Juvenile >30 days

 Brood stock are kept in tanks or ponds ◦ Larvae can also be purchased for culture  They are triggered to breed with ◦ Natural water temperature changes ◦ Hormonal additions to the water  Eggs are hatched out in recirculation tanks ◦ They float and are just scooped out of the water  larvae are fed started about 3 days after hatching

 Recirculation Systems used for Hatchery and Nursery  Also Green water ponds ◦ Fed rotifers at 3 days ◦ Microalgae and Artemia nauplii at 7 days  High density larval rearing can give low survival rate ◦ Lowering the density can raise the survival rate  The larvae are size graded at least 3 times before grow out to reduce cannibalism

2000L cone shaped tank Flow through system 20L/min flow speed

 Open net cage method ◦ Used in most places it is cultured  Offshore technology being developed ◦ In the US and Bahamas  Recirculation systems ◦ Suitable and in development  Ponds ◦ Used in some countries

 Recirculation Systems for eggs and larvae ◦ Target temperature range 28-29C ◦ Optimal salinity 25ppt (not to exceed 35ppt) ◦ pH close to 8 ◦ High levels of aeration ◦ D.O. 8-9 mg/L  Grow out systems need similar conditions to warm tropical and subtropical waters ◦ Temperature is most important ◦ Must be done in warm areas

 Larvae eat very small planktonic organisms  Adult fish are carnivorous ◦ Crabs, Squids, Shrimp, Fish  In captivity are generally fed commercial fish meal ◦ Other options are being studied

Advantages Disadvantages  Very fast growing  Good economic investment (good return)  Great tasting and popular meat  Fare well in cultured environments  May keep wild populations safer if meat available from culture  Ongoing research to address problems  “up and coming” species  Some problems with juvenile survival rates in intensive systems and transportation  Carnivorous diet hard to replicate without fish meal which has environmental concerns  Cage systems have same environmental concerns as salmon and other large cages fishes