Population dynamics and stock status of cobia,Rachycentron canadum,caught in Australian recreational and commercial coastal fisheries

Abstract Age and growth of Rachycentron canadum (L.) was studied in northern and eastern Australia to provide data for a preliminary assessment of the stock and to explore possible fisheries management strategies using minimum legal lengths. Fish collected from commercial and recreational fisheries ranged in size and weight from 125 to 1633 mm fork length (FL) and 0.031 to 55 kg respectively. Annual growth increments in sectioned otoliths formed by November–December. Estimated ages ranged from 0 to 7 yr for both genders. Longevity was estimated to be at least 13 yr. Von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were L = 1160 mm FL, K = 0.63 yr^?1 and t₀ = ?0.21 yr^?1. Rachycentron canadum reach 600 mm FL in their first year and over 1000 mm FL in 3 years. Natural and total mortalities were estimated at 0.35 yr^?1 and 0.85 yr^?1, respectively. Populations of R. canadum may be vulnerable to growth overfishing under the current minimum legal length of 750 mm total length (TL) in Queensland waters. An increase in minimum legal length to 850 mm TL is recommended.     

Nutritional requirements of cobia, Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus): a review

Cobia culture has been rapidly gaining in popularity since the early 1990s; however, the relative success of modified commercial diets in aquaculture has delayed the need for specific research into the nutritional requirements of cobia. Recent work has determined optimum dietary protein and lipid levels in juvenile cobia at 45 and 5–15% dry weight respectively. Maximum growth and feed conversion ratios have been recorded at 27–29 °C in juvenile cobia with an optimum ration level determined at 9% initial body weight per day. There is limited information on amino acid and essential fatty acids (EFA) requirements in cobia. Several studies have explored alternate protein sources in juvenile cobia with relative success observed with meat meal, yeast-based protein and various plant based sources including soybean meal. There is no literature on the vitamin or mineral requirements of cobia or the nutritional requirements of larger fish. Therefore future research should focus on the amino acid, EFA, vitamin and mineral requirements of cobia while the protein, lipid and energy requirements of larger cobia should be addressed. Additional work on feed ingredients, choice and palatability would also aid in maximizing culture production while minimizing costs thereby producing a more sustainable product.     

Advances in hatchery and grow-out technology of cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus)

This paper describes advances in hatchery and grow‐out technology of cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Linnaeus). In 2007, methods for capture, transport, acclimation, sampling, conditioned spawning, larval rearing, fingerling production, nursery, shipping and grow‐out have been perfected. Survival rates ranging from 17.5% to 35% were achieved from egg to shipping size fingerlings (1.0 g) in 2007 at the University of Miami Experimental Fish Hatchery, with production of approximately 20 000 fingerlings per 12 000 L tank. Wild and F1 broodstock cobia have been conditioned to spawn through temperature manipulation producing viable eggs for experimental and production level larval rearing trials in several hatcheries. Brood fish have also been induced to spawn using hormones. Cobia appear to be susceptible to infestations by parasitic protozoa such as Amyloodinium ocellatum and to infections caused by deleterious bacteria such as Photobacterium spp. and Vibrio spp. Prophylactic methods used to prevent and control epizootic diseases at the hatchery are summarized. Improved techniques for cage management were implemented, and both novel designs of submerged cages deployed in exposed areas and traditional gravity cages in protected areas have been used for commercial ongrowing of cobia in the Americas and the Caribbean region.     

Dietary arginine requirement of juvenile cobia ( Rachycentron canadum)

A 9‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the dietary requirement of arginine in juvenile cobia in indoor flow‐through and aerated aquaria. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic practical diets were formulated to contain graded levels of arginine ranging from 1.76% to 3.75% (dry weight) at about 0.4% increments replaced by equal proportions of glycine. Survival was not significantly different among dietary treatments. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) increased with increasing dietary arginine up to the 2.96% diet (P < 0.05), and thereafter declined. The whole body crude protein content was significantly affected by dietary arginine (P < 0.05), while moisture, crude lipid and ash showed no significant differences among dietary treatments. The essential amino acid contents of muscle were not significantly affected by dietary arginine. The serum nitric oxide synthase activities in fish fed diets with arginine from 2.18% to 3.75% were significantly higher than activities in fish fed the diet with 1.76% arginine (P < 0.05). On the basis of SGR and FER, the optimal dietary arginine requirements of juvenile cobia were estimated to be 2.85% of the diet (6.20% of dietary protein) and 2.82% of the diet (6.13% of dietary protein), respectively, using second‐order polynomial regression analysis.     

Acute responses of juvenile cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus 1766) to acid stress

Fish are potentially submitted to water acidification when reared in recirculating aquaculture systems. This study evaluated the responses of juvenile cobia Rachycentron canadum after acute exposure to acid water. Juvenile cobia (12.6 ± 0.5 g; 14.2 ± 0.2 cm) were acutely exposed to four pH levels (7.9 (control), 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5). After 24 h of exposure to different pH values, fish were sampled for physiological and histopathological evaluation. Acid water affected physiological parameters and induced morphological histopathologies on gill and skin of juvenile cobia, and these effects were more conspicuous with decreasing pH values. Acid stress induced blood acidosis in juvenile cobia, coupled to a decrease in bicarbonate (HCO₃^?) and saturated O₂ (sO₂) in fish blood. On the other hand, haematocrit, haemoglobin and glucose concentration increased their values (P < 0.01) comparing to control level. Hyperplasia with completely fusion of secondary lamella was observed in all pH treatments (6.5. 6.0 and 5.5), while telangiectasia and proliferation of chloride cells were present for fish exposed to pH 6.0 and 5.5. In skin hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mucous cells, necrosis of these cells for fish exposed to pH 6.0 and 5.5 was observed. The results of this study demonstrate that acute acid water exposition affected physiology and histopathology in juvenile cobia, especially at pH values below 6.5. Accordingly, particular attention must be given to pH during cobia reared in recirculating aquaculture.     

我国军曹鱼研究现状

军曹鱼具有生长速度快、病害少、营养价值高等优点,是国内近几年来养殖规模迅速发展的重要海水经济鱼类,已成为海水网箱养殖的重要品种。根据国内军曹鱼的研究情况,对军曹鱼的基础生物学、人工繁养殖、营养需求、病害、遗传多样性等方面进行了综述和展望,以期为军曹鱼的进一步开发利用提供参考依据。     

Partial replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted in floating cages (1.5 × 1.0 × 2.0 m) to determine the potential use of defatted soybean meal (roasted and solvent‐extracted) as a partial replacement of fishmeal in the isonitrogenous (approximately 450 g kg^?1 CP [crude protein]) diet for juvenile cobia with an initial average weight of about 8.3 g. Diets were formulated to include 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 g kg^?1 (diets D0, D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and D60, respectively) of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal without methionine supplementation. The results showed that weight gain rate decreased significantly when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was increased from 400 g kg^?1 to 500 g kg^?1, and the D60 diet was the lowest in all groups. These results indicate that up to 400 g kg^?1 of fishmeal protein can be replaced by defatted soybean meal without causing significant reduction in growth. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly affected by the replacement level of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal, when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was 200 g kg^?1 (diet, D20), FCR was the lowest and PER was the highest. There were no significant differences in the moisture, lipid, crude protein and ash content in whole body and muscle, while lipid content in liver increased as the dietary soybean meal replacement levels increased. There were significant differences in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell, plasma glucose and triglyceride concentration in fish fed diets with different soybean meal replacement levels. Results of this trial indicated that the optimum level of fishmeal protein replacement with defatted soybean meal, determined by quadratic regression analysis was 189.2 g kg^?1, on the basis of maximum weight gain.     

饲料中添加胆汁酸对军曹鱼生长及体组成的影响

在4组等氮等能的军曹鱼（Rachycentron canadum）实用饲料中分别添加不同梯度水平的胆汁酸（0,0.015%,0.030%和0.045%）,连续投喂初始体质量为（5.4±0.12）g的军曹鱼8周后,通过测定军曹鱼增重率（WGR,%）、特定生长率（SGR,%）和饲料系数（FCR）,并进行肝脏成分分析和血清分析,比较各组军曹鱼生长和体组成的影响。结果表明,添加水平为0.03%组的增重率高于对照组和0.015%添加组,饲料系数低于上述2组;军曹鱼血清胆固醇和肝脏脂肪的质量分数均与饲料中胆汁酸质量分数呈负相关;4组的成活率、特定生长率、全鱼和肌肉灰分、水分质量分数没有显著性差异。由此可见,饲料中添加胆汁酸能够促进军曹鱼的生长,并能降低脂肪在军曹鱼体内中的沉积。     

Evaluation of egg quality in broodstock cobia Rachycentron canadum L.

Twenty egg batches spawned naturally from 17 different females over two spawning seasons were used to evaluate the egg quality of cobia Rachycentron canadum. A reduction in egg size was observed towards the end of the spawning season for both years. The proportion of floating eggs demonstrated a positive linear relationship with both yolk‐sac larval survival (r²=0.91, P<0.05) and batch larval production (r²=0.80, P<0.01). Viable egg batches (i.e. fertilization success >50%) were of higher batch fecundity, had larger eggs and a higher proportion of floating eggs than non‐viable batches (i.e. 0% fertilization success). Also, biochemical analyses revealed that these viable eggs had significantly higher protein and amino acid contents. A multiple regression model based on the proportion of floating eggs, batch fecundity and fertilization success provided the most accurate predictions of batch larval production (r²=0.95, P<0.001). Similarly, using the egg content of arginine/glycine and methionine significantly increased the correlation coefficient in the multiple regression model predicting larval deformity (r²=0.92, P=0.002). This study reveals that accurate determination of egg quality in cobia can be improved using a combination of several variables rather than a single variable.     

军曹鱼黏膜免疫组织发育的形态学研究

运用组织学及组织化学的染色方法,对出膜后第l-44天（days post-hatch,dph）的军曹鱼（Rachycentron canadum）黏膜免疫组织的发育过程进行研究。结果显示,白细胞在黏膜免疫组织出现的时间顺序由早到晚依次为鳃、皮肤、胃、肠,同大量抗原接触鱼体组织时白细胞出现的时间顺序相符。军曹鱼胃固有层中丰富的白细胞说明胃可能在黏膜免疫中发挥着很大的作用。黏液细胞最早出现在胃;其后是皮肤和肠道;鳃最晚。在胃肠、皮肤内的黏液细胞几天后就可分泌中性至酸性黏液物质,且分泌量随鱼体分发育而增多,但在鳃组织内,黏液的分泌早于黏液细胞的出现。在采样的时间段里,黏膜免疫组织未发现浆细胞,可能是由于B细胞还没有发育成熟并具备免疫功能。从白细胞在军曹鱼黏膜组织内发育及分布的状况,可见黏膜组织具有完成免疫应答的细胞基础。     

军曹鱼消化系统的形态及组织学研究

利用活体解剖和光镜技术对军曹鱼Rachycentron canadum消化系统进行形态及组织学研究。结果显示,军曹鱼消化道由口咽腔、食道、胃、幽门盲囊、前肠、中肠和后肠几部分组成。口咽腔大,粘膜上皮为复层鳞状上皮,内含少量杯状细胞。食道很短,但上皮包括复层鳞状上皮区和单层柱状上皮区。胃膨大,呈Y形,在贵门和幽门部可观测到杯状细胞,胃体粘膜层下有大量的胃腺细胞。幽门盲囊发达,肠短但分3部分,前肠、中肠和后肠,肠道系数为0．43,肠道由前向后杯状细胞和粘膜皱褶不断减少。消化腺包括肝脏和胰腺,肝小叶分界不明显,肝细胞内脂肪含量丰富,胰腺属于散在性的,其外分泌部有许多腺泡组成,胰岛分散于外分泌部间。     

Reproductive biology of the commercially and recreationally important cobia Rachycentron canadum in northeastern Australia

The reproductive biology of 315 cobia, Rachycentron canadum, from northeastern Australia was studied for an 18-month period. Cobia ranged from 181 to 1,470 mm FL (0.06–55 kg). Length–frequency distributions of males and females did not differ significantly. The sex ratio of females to males was 2.18:1. Histological data showed that cobia developed hydrated oocytes during a protracted spawning season between September and June. Gonadosomatic index peaked from October to December, coinciding with the monsoon or “wet” season. Estimated length at first maturity for female cobia was 671 mm FL. Length at 50% maturity (L ₅₀) for females was estimated at 784 mm FL (1–2 years of age). Batch fecundity ranged from 577,468 to 7,372,283 eggs with a mean of 2,877,669 (± SD 1,603,760) eggs. Relative batch fecundity was 249 eggs per g, and no relationship between relative fecundity and fork length was found. There was a significant positive relationship between the total number of eggs produced and fork length. Spawning frequency, estimated by the post-ovulatory follicle method, was 7.6 days. Based on the detection of hydrated oocytes in fish caught at night, cobia most likely spawn at night. Cobia also feed throughout the spawning period. This is the first report on the reproductive biology of cobia in Australian waters, and provides valuable data for future population assessments of cobia throughout the Indo-Pacific.     

Effects of shrimp waste meal on growth performance and chitinase activity in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

The effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with shrimp waste meal (SWM) in diets fed to juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) were investigated through a 6‐week trial. SWM was added to replace FM at fractions of 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% of the diet. The result showed the survival rates of the fish were higher than 86.7%. The weight gain and feed conversion rate showed an increasing trend as the SWM proportion in diet increased from 0% to 25%, but the protein efficiency ratio showed a decreasing trend in efficiency. In addition, the hepatosomatic index increased significantly when the SWM percentage was 20% and 25%. There were no significant differences in the protein and ash concentration of the muscle among all dietary groups. However, the muscle lipid content was low when fish fed in diets with high SWM level. Chitinase activity was extremely high in the pyloric caeca tissue of cobia, and increased specific activities of chitinase were only found in the foregut of cobia fed diets containing 10% SWM for a 6‐week period. A challenge test showed that SWM could not enhance cobia resistance to Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida infection. Our results suggest that the administration of a 10% SWM diet could potentially reduce the use of FM in the diet of cobia.     

军曹鱼全基因组微卫星特征分析与多态性标记的筛选及应用

为更好地开发军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)高多态性微卫星分子标记,本研究基于军曹鱼全基因组测序结果,利用MISA1.0软件对其简单重复序列(simple sequence repeat, SSR)的位点信息进行检索及分析。结果显示,基因组中共筛选出1~6个核苷酸为重复单元的SSR位点344 820个,其中,以单核苷酸重复序列最多(174 146个),占SSR总数的50.50%;其次为二核苷酸重复和三核苷酸重复序列,分别占SSR总数的30.23%和14.02%。在SSR包含的重复单元中,单核苷酸重复以A/T类型为主,AC/GT是二核苷酸的优势重复单元类型。军曹鱼基因组SSR核心序列重复次数在4~275次范围内波动,单核苷酸SSR重复数为10的最多,二核苷酸SSR重复次数为6的最多。本研究设置长度≥12 bp为筛选高多态性SSR位点的标准,共获得361 684个位点。在上述位点中随机选取100个候选位点进行基因分型检测,利用从中筛选到多态性较高的10个SSR标记分别对北海、陵水、硇洲、徐闻和三亚5个养殖群体进行遗传多样性分析,145尾个体中共检测到69个等位基因,观测杂合度(Ho)、期望杂合度(He)和多态信息含量(PIC)平均值分别为0.628、0.706和0.653。相关研究表明,军曹鱼基因组中SSR位点类型较为丰富、多态性潜能较高,从中筛选获得的多态性SSR标记可为军曹鱼分子标记辅助育种、群体遗传多样性评价等研究提供有力支持。     

军曹鱼△6脂肪酸去饱和酶的cDNA序列克隆与基因表达

为了研究海水鱼合成高度不饱和脂肪酸(Highly unsaturated fatty acids,HUFAs)的关键酶,本研究克隆了军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)的△6脂肪酸去饱和酶的部分cDNA序列。根据GenBank已公布的其他鱼类的△6脂肪酸去饱和酶cDNA序列进行分析,设计了一对用于PCR扩增军曹鱼的△6脂肪酸去饱和酶基因保守序列的引物;然后以军曹鱼肝总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR的方法扩增出一段长度为743bp的片段,该片段经纯化后,连接至pMD18-T载体上进行测序。结果显示,该片段与欧洲狼鲈(Dicentrarchus labrax)△6脂肪酸去饱和酶基因的覆盖区同源性为90.4%,该蛋白结构含有2个组氨酸保守区(HDFGH和HFQHH)和2个跨膜结构域,具有典型的△6脂肪酸去饱和酶结构特点。通过荧光定量PCR(Real-time quantityPCR,RTQ-PCR)检测该基因在军曹鱼幼鱼不同组织中的表达量,发现△6脂肪酸去饱和酶基因在军曹鱼脑的表达量最高;其次是肝;再其次是心、肠、脾、肾、鳃;而肌肉和皮肤的表达量相对较低,在脂肪组织中没有检测到△6去饱和酶基因的表达。结论为,军曹鱼具有合成HUFAs的关键酶—△6脂肪酸去饱和酶,在其所有组织中以脑之含量最多。     

Substituting fish meal with soybean meal in diets of juvenile cobia Rachycentron canadum

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted with cobia to determine the amount of soybean meal that could replace fish meal in formulated diets without reducing growth. Juvenile cobia (initial mean weight, 32 g) were fed 48% crude protein diets in which dietary protein was supplied by brown fish meal or a mixture of hexane extracted soybean meal and the fish meal, resulting in 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% of fish meal protein being replaced by soybean protein. The fish readily accepted all seven experimental diets and no fish died during the trial. Detrimental effects on growth performance were obvious when half of the fish meal protein was replaced by soybean protein. There existed a significant difference in fish weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein utilization (NPU) when the replacement level for fish meal protein was increased from 40% to 50%, indicating that up to 40% of fish meal protein can be replaced by soybean meal protein without causing reduction in growth and protein utilization. On the other hand, quadratic regression analysis shows a growth optimum at 16.9% replacement of fish meal protein by soybean meal protein. Lipid concentrations in the cobia muscle increased significantly as dietary soybean meal increased. Muscle concentrations of free threonine and histidine decreased as use of the soybean meal increased in the diets. Since methionine concentration in the test diets decreased from 2.52 to 1.36 g 16 g⁻¹ N as the soybean meal protein replacement level was increased from 0% to 60% while all other essential amino acids remained relatively constant, dietary requirement of methionine was calculated assuming it was equally available between the two proteins. The broken-line model analysis based on fish weight gain shows a breakpoint when dietary methionine+cystine concentration was 2.66 g 16 g⁻¹ N or 1.28 g 100 g⁻¹ diet.     

Ecological and economic analysis for cobia Rachycentron canadum commercial cage culture in Taiwan

The structure of cost and return for cobia cage culture in Taiwan was studied by considering two major factors, geographical location and production scale. Although the geographical location had little influence on the input intensities, the production scale would have a significant impact on the cost structure. However, the performances of profitability were significantly affected by not only the individual main effects but also their interaction. As a result, the studied effects on the cost and return were quantitatively estimated by a series of statistical models, in turn quantitatively measured by a set of indices. A short-term strategy of the management suggested that the best choice regarding profitability is to locate the farming system with a large-scale operation in the coastal waters of Pindong. Additionally, the profitability could be further increased by selecting better quality fingerlings and feeds based on a set of the computed indices. A long-term strategy of the management strongly recommends that to increase the system size in cobia production would be much more profitable due to the positive economies of scale. Finally, a future study shall be interested in whether current speed has a limiting effect on the profitability.