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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182837
Title: OUTDOOR TANK AND POND SPAWNING OF COBIA RACHYCENTRON CANADUM IN COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA

Author
item Weirich, Charles
item STOKES, ALVIN - SC DEPT OF NATURAL RESOUR
item SMITH, THEODORE - SC DEPT OF NATURAL RESOUR
item JENKINS, WALLACE - SC DEPT OF NATURAL RESOUR
item DENSON, MICHAEL - SC DEPT OF NATURAL RESOUR

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2006
Publication Date: 9/1/2006
Citation: Weirich, C.R., Stokes, A.D., Smith, T.I., Jenkins, W.E., Denson, M.R. 2006. Outdoor tank and pond spawning of cobia rachycentron canadum in coastal South Carolina. Journal of Applied Aquaculture. 18(3):1-16.

Interpretive Summary: Cobia Rachycentron canadum is a large migratory marine finfish species that has excellent consumer appeal and has been shown to exhibit phenomenal growth rates in captivity. Because of these two factors coupled with the success of rearing cobia in Taiwan, considerable interest exists in the US with respect to culturing this species and as such, research efforts have been implemented to address this topic. One vital area of knowledge that must be expanded upon to allow industry expansion is reproduction and seed stock production. To address this topic Research was conducted at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Waddell Mariculture Center to evaluate the potential for captive reproduction of cobia in outdoor tanks and ponds. In May 2001, adult cobia (3 ', 1 ', and 1 suspected ') obtained from a local high salinity estuary were stocked into an outdoor tank (32,000-L) and spawning occurred within 2 d. Over the course of 3 consecutive d a total of 3.6 million eggs were collected. Mean fertilization rate was 58.1 % and mean percent hatch was 27.5 %. Fish were relocated to a 0.25-ha pond 10 d after tank spawning ended. One female received pelleted GnRHa before stocking. Eggs were observed 3 d after stocking and at 12 d after hatching, approximately 50,000 larvae were harvested. In May and June 2002, three groups of recently-caught adult cobia, each consisting of 3 ' and 1 ', were placed in one of three outdoor tanks. Spawning occurred within 2-4 d after stocking of Tanks 1 and 2. During a single spawning event a total of 2.1 million and 560,000 eggs were collected from Tanks 1 and 2, respectively. Relative batch fecundity of females stocked in Tanks 1 and 2 was estimated to be 79.2 and 20.9 eggs/g, respectively. No fertile eggs were collected from Tank 2. Percent fertilization and hatch of eggs collected from Tank 1 was 3.2 and 1.5 %, respectively. No spawning activity of fish stocked in Tank 3 occurred. Findings reveal that naturally conditioned recently-caught adult cobia can readily spawn soon after capture and that ponds can be utilized for reproduction of this species in the US.

Technical Abstract: Research was conducted at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Waddell Mariculture Center to evaluate the potential for captive reproduction of cobia Rachycentron canadum in outdoor tanks and ponds. In May 2001, adult cobia (3 ', 1 ', and 1 suspected ') obtained from a local estuary were stocked into an outdoor tank (32,000-L). Spawning occurred within 2 d. Over the course of 3 consecutive d a total of 3.6 million eggs were collected with roughly equal numbers collected during each 24 h period. Mean fertilization rate was 58.1 %. Hatching occurred at approximately 24 h after each spawning event. Mean percent hatch was 27.5 %. Fish were relocated to a 0.25-ha circular pond 10 d after tank spawning activity ended. One female received pelleted GnRHa before stocking. Eggs were observed 3 d after stocking and at12 d after hatching, approximately 50,000 larvae were harvested. In May and June 2002, three groups of recently-caught adult cobia, each consisting of 3 ' and 1 ', were placed in one of three outdoor tanks. Spawning occurred within 2-4 d after stocking of Tanks 1 and 2. During a single spawning event 2.1 million and 560,000 eggs were collected from Tanks 1 and 2, respectively. Relative batch fecundity of females stocked in Tanks 1 and 2 was estimated to be 79.2 and 20.9 eggs/g, respectively. No fertile eggs were collected from Tank 2. Percent fertilization and hatch of eggs collected from Tank 1 was 3.2 and 1.5 %, respectively. No spawning activity of fish stocked in Tank 3 occurred. Findings reveal that naturally conditioned recently-caught adult cobia can readily spawn soon after capture and that ponds can be utilized for reproduction of this species in the US.