Cobia: The Next Aquaculture Success Story
Cobia are a fast-growing marine fish that are found in the warm equatorial waters along the eastern shores of Virginia and North Carolina as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Cobia's fine flavor, which has been likened to mahi-mahi and Chilean sea bass, makes it an excellent alternative to those and other white fish species such as cod, haddock, and halibut. Large, long, slim-bodied fish with a broad head and protruding lower jaw, cobia have an overall dark brown color with a prominent dark lateral stripe that runs from the eye to the tail. A powerful and thrilling catch, cobia is one of the most sought after game fish - sleek and extremely strong, it has been known to range in size in the wild up to 135 pounds!
Cobia possess a number of characteristics that make it the next big aquaculture species to hit the supermarket:
Highly Desirable Flesh Characteristics
Higher omega 3 Fatty Acid content as compared to other white fleshed fish such as Cod, Haddock, Halibut, and Tilapia
Healthy alternative brain food to that of canned tuna
Great taste and texture
More forgiving of chef cooking experience
Suitable for sushi or ceviche, can be cooked by baking, poaching, frying, or grilling
Good Fillet Yield
Approximately 50% large fish;
Approximately 45% for 1 kg fish; -6% skinless)
Economic Advantages Over Salmon
Ability to use higher carbohydrate inclusion levels in diet
Lower lipid requirements
Ability to use soy protein and other fishmeal alternatives
No pigment needs to be added
Accepts a wide variety of feedstuffs in the wild and in captivity
Good FCR (conversion of food to flesh)
Good disease resistance
Very High Growth Rate
Fish reach market size prior to maturation
Harvest size fish in less than a year
Very Desirable Cultivation Characteristics
Short generation time to select for improved aquaculture characteristics
Can spawn after 2 years vs. 4+ years for most of the alternative white fleshed marine species
Excellent behavioral characteristics in captivity
Behaves like a domesticated species direct from the wild
Not stressed by captive environment
Not frightened by human activity
Constantly looking to be fed when workers are visible to fish
Curious nature, will swim up to greet onlookers
Will spawn in captivity without the need for hormones
Read More:
Virginia Cobia Farms Cobia: High Quality Food Fish
3 month old cobia
