COBIA (Rachycentron canadum)

Taiwan and China. Feed cost is the main expenditure in cobia culture; thus, good feed managementcould effectively reduce production costs and increase business performance. The feed quality andinput management model of Taiwan, in conjunction with the fingerling quality and stock model ofChina, could provide future reference for farming management in such areas as feed input andselection of fingerling.118. Kuo, J.C. & Lin, M.N. (2005). The cage culture production analysis of cobia (Rachycentroncancadum) in Taiwan. Journal of the Fisheries Society of Taiwan, 32(1), 123-124.In this study, we use the survey data of 1998-2002 to analysis the production economic of cobiacage aquaculture industry. The results showed seed cost and diet cost were highest in direct costs;wage was highest in indirect costs. The mean net profit of 1998-2002 was bad; benefit-income ratioand profit rate were negative. We found the man-made technical inefficiency were greater than notman-madetechnical inefficiency from Cobb-Douglas stochastic production frontier model. Theadoption of recommended large cage and increased aquaculture are found to be critical forimproved performance of cobia fish farmer.119. Miao, S., Jen, C.C., Huang, C.T. & Hu, S.H. (2009). Ecological and economic analysis for cobiaRachycentron canadum commercial cage culture in Taiwan. Aquaculture International, 17(2), 125-141.The structure of cost and return for cobia cage culture in Taiwan was studied by considering twomajor factors, geographical location and production scale. Although the geographical location hadlittle influence on the input intensities, the production scale would have a significant impact on thecost structure. However, the performances of profitability were significantly affected by not onlythe individual main effects but also their interaction. As a result, the studied effects on the cost andreturn were quantitatively estimated by a series of statistical models, in turn quantitatively measuredby a set of indices. A short-term strategy of the management suggested that the best choiceregarding profitability is to locate the farming system with a large-scale operation in the coastalwaters of Pindong. Additionally, the profitability could be further increased by selecting betterquality fingerlings and feeds based on a set of the computed indices. A long-term strategy of themanagement strongly recommends that to increase the system size in cobia production would bemuch more profitable due to the positive economies of scale. Finally, a future study shall beinterested in whether current speed has a limiting effect on the profitability.120. Petersen, E.H., Luan, T.D., Chinh, D.T.M., Tuan, V.A., Binh, T.Q., Van Truc, L. & Glencross,B.D. (2014). Bioeconomics of cobia, Rachycentron canadum, culture in Vietnam. AquacultureEconomics & Management, 18(1), 28-44.This article presents an analysis of the profitability and intensity of cobia culture by small-scalefarmers in Vietnam, especially focusing on current feeding practices and perceptions regardingadoption of manufactured diets. Bioeconomic modelling is used so the interactions betweenbiological and economic processes can be analyzed. Overall, it is found that cobia farming ismoderately to highly profitable when compared to other aquaculture species in Vietnam. Culturepractices and the level of intensity of cobia farming differ significantly across Vietnam. Initialstocking density, total number of fish stocked, number and size of cages, and quantity of feed usedare all higher in southern Vietnam than the north. The higher level of intensification in the southleads to significantly higher total costs, productivity and profitability. The dominant cost source isfeed, which is predominantly low-value fish. To capture the environmental and potential economicbenefits of adopting pelleted diets, then negative farmer perceptions regarding relatively slowgrowth rates, and lack of availability compared with low-value fish need to be overcome.121. Petersen, E.H., Glencross, B.D., Van Tien, N., Tuan, L.A., Tuan, V.A. & Phuong, T.H. (2015).Recent changes in the bioeconomic of finfish mariculture in Vietnam. Journal of AquacultureResearch & Development, 6(3), 1.Finfish mariculture farmers in Vietnam are making careful practice change decisions in reaction toa number of economic drivers. These economic drivers are centred on trends of increasing inputcosts and decreasing output prices. In general, mariculture farmers are adapting to the cost-pricesqueeze in a number of ways, including increasing stocking densities and area, and by adoptingrisk-reducing strategies (decreasing grow-out periods and using a larger number of smaller ponds tospread mortality risk). However, there is still a shortage of good quality low-cost fingerlings whichis constraining farmers' ability to adapt to the cost-price squeeze. The dominant input cost source isfeed. Most farmers are still reliant on trash-fish feeds. With low and decreasing feed conversion35