COBIA (Rachycentron canadum)

technological reasons, others due to economic considerations. At present, there are two fish speciesthat are considered to stand a particularly good chance of market success: Atlantic cod (Gadusmorhua) and cobia (Rachycentron canadum).141. Liao, I.C. (2005). Aquaculture practices in Taiwan and its visions. Journal of the Fisheries Societyof Taiwan, 32(3), 193-206.Aquaculture in Taiwan began more than 300 years ago. In general, the history of aquaculturedevelopment in Taiwan can be divided in three stages: 1) Traditional stage (1661-1962); 2)Prosperous stage (1963-1987); and, 3) Transition stage (1988-present). At present, Taiwan isrecognized as one of the countries with the most advanced and practical aquaculture technologies inthe world. The significant achievements of aquaculture in Taiwan are the development of masspropagation and culture techniques for many aquaculture species including grass prawn, greymullet, milkfish, tilapia, eel, and cobia among others. Biotechnological achievements are alsonoteworthy and these include the production of transgenic fish for the aquarium industry (e.g.zebrafish), development of molecular diagnostic techniques for most viral diseases of prawns, andthe use of bioproducts for disease prevention in prawns. As aquaculture continued to prosper whichcontributed significantly to the country's fisheries production, food supply, rural livelihood,employment generation and socio-economic growth, problems were also encountered whichresulted in the partial collapse of the industry. And the fact that most aquafarmers are too profitoriented,overseeing these problems in exchange for higher production also resulted in negativeeffects on the aquaculture industry in the long run. Some government rules and policies, as well asbureaucracy, hinder the advancement of the industry towards sustainable aquaculture. With thecurrent situation of the aquaculture industry in Taiwan, which is somehow not in harmony of whatis happening in the world aquaculture, there is an urgent need to propose strategies that can sustainthe industry in the future, including: strengthening of traditional techniques (e.g. on mass larvalproduction); scientific research on nutrition and health; development of environment-friendlyaquaculture systems; value-addition among processed aquaculture products; and, institutionalcooperation locally, nationally and internationally.142. Liao, I.C., Huang, T.S., Tsai, W.S., Hsueh, C.M., Chang, S.L. & Leaño, E.M. (2004). Cobiaculture in Taiwan: current status and problems. Aquaculture, 237(1-4), 155-165.Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, is a widely distributed species from the Indo-Pacific waters to thesouthern Atlantic Ocean. In Taiwan, it is an indigenous and an ideal species for cage culture. Due toits high market value in both domestic and international markets, the technology for its culture hasrapidly developed in the past few years. These include mass propagation through natural spawningof captive broodstocks, larval rearing techniques, nursery production in tanks, ponds and nearshorecages, and grow-out culture in offshore cages. Reproduction in captivity is relatively easy becausesexual maturity often occurs within 2 years of culture. Spontaneous spawning occurs year around atwater temperatures of 23-27 °C, with peak during spring and autumn. Fertilized eggs hatch within21-37 h at water temperature of 31-22 °C. Larval growth is fast, and larvae are vitally robust andenvironment tolerant compared to other marine fishes. Fry can be mass-produced in outdoor pondsat relatively low cost. Weaning of fry from 20 days old onwards to pellet feeds is feasible. Nurseryrearing from 10-30 to 1000 g can be done in either outdoor ponds or nearshore cages. Majordiseases affecting cobia include bacterial (pasteurellosis, vibriosis and streptococcosis), parasitic(myxosporidea, Trichodina, Neobenedenia and Amyloodinium infestations), and viral(lymphocystis) ones. In recent years, intensive and super-intensive recirculation systems for nursery(from 2 to 100-150 g) were developed with survival rates of more than 90%. In nursery and growoutoffshore cages, 100-600 g cobia were cultured within 1-1.5 years when they reached 6-8 kg forexport to Japan, or 8-10 kg for the domestic market. Currently, around 80% of marine cages inTaiwan are devoted to cobia culture. However, some problems still exist in cobia culture that needsto be addressed and solved to increase production. These include high mortality due to stress duringtransport from nursery tanks/inshore cages to grow-out cages and diseases during nursery and growoutculture resulting in low survival, and consequently poor harvest.143. Liao, I.C. & Leaño, E.M. (2005). Cobia aquaculture in Taiwan. World Aquaculture, 36(1), 31-32;64-65.Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, also known as Canadian sergeant fish, black kingfish, lemonfish, orling and locally as hai li or hai lei, is now being cultured in offshore sea cages in Taiwan because ofits good meat quality and fast growth rate (Su et al. 2000, Liao 2003). The meat of cultured cobiacontains higher fatty acid, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosohexaenoic acid42