COBIA (Rachycentron canadum)

environmental impact has been ever detected in the areas surrounding the cages. The technology forproducing cobia from egg to market is in place.127. Benetti, D.D., O'Hanlon, B., Rivera, J.A., Welch, A.W., Maxey, C. & Orhun, M.R. (2010).Growth rates of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) cultured in open ocean submerged cages in theCaribbean. Aquaculture, 302(3-4), 95-201.Growth rates of hatchery-reared cobia Rachycentron canadum cultured in submersible cages offPuerto Rico and the Bahamas were comprehensively studied and are presented, discussed andcompared to those of other teleosts. Cobia grew to averages of 6.035kg (specific growth rate(SGR)=2.10%/day) in 363days at the Puerto Rico site (PR) and 3.545kg (SGR=2.04%/day) in346days at the Bahamas site (BA). Growth in length is best expressed by the equations: y=12+0.18x; r 2 =0.59 at PR and y =12+0.16x; r 2 =0.86 at BA. The Laird-Gompertz model was usedto represent growth in weight to best express the rate of decline in growth rate with age (a=0.006194 PR and a =0.006323 BA), which occurred at the onset of precocious maturation for thisspecies at 2.0-4.5kg in 300days post hatch (dph). The exponents (b) of length-weight relationshipscalculated (3.31 at PR and 3.20 at BA) demonstrate that cultured cobia exhibit greater conditionfactors than their wild counterparts (b =2.8) and explain the morphological differences observedbetween wild and culture cobia. Final stocking densities of 5 and 15kg/m3 were estimated at PRand BA, respectively. Average water temperatures for the duration of the growout cycle were 27.8°C at PR and 25.5 °C at BA. Results show that growth rates of cobia vary widely and suggest anegative effect of lower temperature and increasing stocking density. These trials also demonstrate,for the first time, that growout of cobia is technically feasible in submerged open ocean cages.128. Benetti, D.D., O'Hanlon, B., Sardenberg, B., Welch, A.W., Hoenig, R. & Nunes, M. (2008).Cobia farming in the Americas and the Caribbean. Infopesca Internacional, 33: 31-36.Due to its extraordinary growth rate and to its adaptability to aquaculture, cobia (Rachycentroncanadum) is one of the species that show the greatest potential for a commercial-orientedproduction. It is also a fish that is naturally spread in practically every region in the Americas andthe Caribbean. In the international markets, meanwhile, cobia enjoys good demand and firm prices.For all this reasons it is interesting to see the experiences described in this article, from thetechnology of spawning in hatcheries to the grow-out in open-sea summerged cages.129. Chang, S.L., Hsieh, C.S., Chang, C.F., Cheng, C.S., Cheng, S.H. & Su, M.S. (1997). Survey onthe status of the offshore cage culture in Hsiao Liu Chio Island. Journal of Taiwan FisheriesResearch, 5(2), 115-128.There are four cage farms in the offshore of Hsiao Liu Chio Island. The types of cage include PVCframe cage, submerged free frame cage (soft cage), circular PE frame cage and submersible circularPE frame cage. The main cultured species include amberjack Seriola dumerili, orange spottedgrouper Epinephelus coioides, cobia Rachycentron canadum, red fish Lutjanus erythropterus andred sea bream Pagrus major. In addition, scat Scatophagus argus, lembus rudderfish Kyphosusvaigiensis, small scal-blackfish Girella sp. and five-striped damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis couldbe served as additional culture species. The ectoparasite of Neobenedeniasis sp., sea lice Caligussp., Dactylogyrus sp. and digestive tract disease have ever been occurred in those cage culture area.At present, the serious problem of cage culture is the marketing. The status and problems ofoffshore cage culture are presented in this report. Further improvement of culture techniques anddeveloping directions will be discussed.130. Chen, Y.H., Su, M.S. & Liao, I.C. (2001). Challenges and strategies of cage aquaculturedevelopment in Taiwan. Aquaculture 2001: Book of Abstracts, 373.Offshore cage aquaculture is regarded as the most important aquaculture industry in Taiwan. It hasbeen realized that the key to the successful development of this industry in Taiwan lies onpreventing and minimizing the damage by typhoons, which occur during summer and fall, the peakgrowingseason. To play safe, this industry started in the protected bay area of Penghu islands in1977. Even under such consideration, the traditional square wooden frame cages used then couldnot stand the surge of typhoon and severe losses were encountered. The discouragement impededfurther development of this industry until early 90s when some durable type cages were developedand Norwegian salmon cage culture industry had shown remarkable growth. Without rigid frame, aflexible submerged cage system was developed in Taiwan and had been welcome by the farmerssince. Successful cases using Norwegian polarCirkel cages also provided another popularalternative. In recent years, a submergible cage system, which was developed jointly by industry,38