Page 38 - World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2011
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36
M
arch
2011
good growth and survival
rates. Improved growth,
survival and/or rate of nor-
mal pigmentation have been
documented for several ma-
rine fish species fed copepods
alone or as a supplement to
the traditional diets of rotifer
or
Artemia
nauplii compared
with traditional diets alone
(Størttup and Norsker 1997,
McEvoy
et al.
1998, Nanton
and Castell 1998, Payne
et al.
2001, Graeb
et al.
2004). The
superiority of copepods over
enriched
Artemia
was attrib-
uted to their higher levels
of acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and
other polyunsaturated fatty
acids (McEvoy
et al.
1998,
Shields
et al.
1999). There-
fore, it is highly recommend-
ed to pay special attention to
this live food component in
future larval cobia rearing and higher
levels of copepods should be consid-
ered (≥2 individuals/mL).
After weaning the 40 day ph larvae
were gradually adapted to 51 ppt and
further grown for 30 days in either 40 t
circular concrete tanks at a density of
75 fish/m
3
or in 55 m
3
nearshore cages
at a stocking density of 100 fish/m
3
.
Conclusion
The results obtained during the
2008 cobia spawning trials under hy-
persaline conditions of natural sea-
water of Abu Al Abyad Island (51
ppt), provided a clear indication of
the inappropriateness of such a high
salinity level for the propagation and
larval rearing of the species. Howev-
er, the results obtained under a more
moderate salinity of 37 ppt demon-
strated the possibility of successfully
spawning and rearing of in the area.
The survival rates obtained diromg
both seasons were unsatisfactory and
further research under local condi-
tions to optimize larviculture opera-
tions is recommended. Important in
this respect are broodstock manage-
ment, stocking densities, larval feed-
ing and grading.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the staff
Fig. 5. Cobia grading.
of the Aquaculture Center at Abu Al
Abyad Island for their sustained hard
work and enthusiastic cooperation.
Notes
1
Aquaculture Center, Abu Al Abyad Is-
land, Department of the President’s Af-
fairs, P.O. Box 372, Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates, Fax: 00971-2-8839112,
E-mail:
2
Salt Creek, Utah, USA.
3
Hayashikane Sangyo, Co. Ltd., Japan.
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