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Cape Eleuthera Institute

Cape Eleuthera Institute. 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

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Cape Eleuthera Institute

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  1. Cape Eleuthera Institute • 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 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZr246dBTAo

  2. Aquaculture of Cobia Rachycentroncanadum

  3. Cobia are Awesome! “Aquapod” Offshore environmentally friendly containment Sport fishing

  4. Impressive Statistics • 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

  5. Big Fish

  6. Economic Importance • 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

  7. Yum!

  8. Countries of Importance • Top five producers • Taiwan • Pakistan • Philippines • Brazil • United Arab Emirates • Countries looking into culture due to economic value • U.S.A. • China • Taiwan

  9. Market price is higher than most other finfish • 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)

  10. Natural Range of Cobia

  11. Life Cycle • Spawn in aggregations, release many small planktonic eggs • Eggs hatch 24-36 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#)

  12. Larval and Juvenile Cobia Late larval stage >6 days Juvenile >30 days Larvae at 12 days old

  13. Reproduction in Captivity • 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

  14. Breeding Stock

  15. Production Methods for Hatchery • Recirculation Systems used for Hatchery and Nursery • Also Green water ponds • Fed rotifers at 3 days • Microalgae and Artemianauplii 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

  16. Incubation and Hatching Tank 2000L cone shaped tank Flow through system 20L/min flow speed

  17. Production Methods for Grow Out • 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

  18. Ready for Grow Out

  19. Water Chemistry • 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

  20. Feeds and Feeding • 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

  21. 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 Advantages Disadvantages

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