3 results

Adopting intensive bio-secure hatchery protocols and improving dietary strategies for grow-out to support the emerging Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) aquaculture industry in Queensland

Project number: 2017-165
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $158,000.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Lee
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 14 Dec 2017 - 14 Jun 2018
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Cobia

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

Transitioning cobia aquaculture research and development in Queensland to industry

Project number: 2017-143
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $510,560.00
Principal Investigator: Evan Goulden
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 14 Dec 2019 - 30 Aug 2021
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Rac Qld
SPECIES
Cobia

Need

Cobia production was instigated in Queensland as a business diversification and risk mitigation option for the marine pond-based aquaculture sector. BIRC has produced and supplied the entirety of cobia fingerlings to industry partners through a number of research projects. In early April 2019, RPP produced their first batch of cobia fingerlings from larvae supplied from BIRC. While commercial-scale methods for hatchery and fingerling production have been successfully adopted by farms, the industry still needs to demonstrate that it can be self-reliant and self-propagating by 2021, by producing seed from its own broodstock. Further, more effective feeding strategies are required for growout-sized fish (> 2 kg) which typically exhibit poor feed conversion ratios (FCR), impacting production efficiencies. This revised proposal seeks to seamlessly transition cobia R&D to a fully vertically integrated industry production model by (1) the supply of biosecure cobia broodstock and seedstock (fertilised eggs and larvae) to industry collaborators; (2) optimising feeding strategies using experimental trials; and (3) promoting project outputs through web-based media.

Objectives

1. Expand cobia production: (a) supply of biosecure broodstock from BIRC to RPP
(b) bilateral exchange of broodstock management, reproductive knowledge and technical support between DAF and RPP
(c) on-demand supply of quality fertilised eggs and/or 1-2 day-old larvae from BIRC to RPP
and (d) optional fee for service ($10,000 per year) entry to future project participants, enabling access to BIRC seedstock through a pro rata arrangement.
2. Optimise feeding strategies for farmed cobia using commercially available finfish diets: (a) conduct a feed trial at BIRC in collaboration with RPP to test the effect of feed frequency of a commercially available fish diet on cobia growth performance (FCR, SGR, biomass)
and (b) conduct a feed trial at BIRC in collaboration with RPP to fast track winter growth of cobia juveniles using a commercially available fish diet.
3. Contribute project deliverables to the DAF cobia aquaculture RD&E web portal.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-7345-0473-9
Authors: Evan Goulden Luke Dutney Brad Cherrie Richard Dickson Trevor Borchert Tom Gallagher Hazra Thaggard Philip Brady Serena Zipf
Final Report • 2021-08-31 • 2.27 MB
2017-143-DLD.pdf

Summary

This report discusses a collaboration between the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Rocky Point Agriculture Pty Ltd (RPA) to transition cobia aquaculture research, development and extension (RD&E) to commercial production. The report outlines the success of RPA in producing commercial volumes of cobia fingerlings and details refinements made to larval rearing systems that were fundamental to this success. Tank studies on harvestable-sized cobia conducted at DAF’s Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC) showed adjustments in feeding frequency could reduce feed input without affecting growth performance. The report also highlights the potential of cobia as an alternative to prawn farming in southeast Queensland and outlines the need for further gains in seed stock supplies, disease management, and feeding efficiencies. The report's methodology includes domesticating broodfish and seedstock and optimising feeding strategies for harvestable-sized cobia. The success of the project was measured by the quantities of fingerlings produced at RPA against commercially relevant targets and the growth performance of harvestable-sized cobia. 

Commercialising the production of Cobia in Australia

Project number: 2014-242
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $308,990.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Lee
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 30 Sep 2014 - 29 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Toxin
Reproduction
Mortality
Habitat
Disease
SPECIES
Cobia

Need

There is a need to build on the work conducted under the auspices of the Seafood CRC and address the issues that have arisen in commercialising cobia. A number of unforeseen circumstances, in both seed supply and grow-out of cobia, arose during the Seafood CRC project,that limited the commercial development of this species.

Cobia is typically regarded as a gonochoristic species. However, a relatively high incidence of intersex individuals in captive-reared broodstock populations has occurred in recent years. This appears to have reduced reproductive output and therefore the regularity and quantity of seed supply. The mechanism behind the intersex individuals, early identification of the anomaly and the potential impact on reproductive output
and commercial hatchery production warrant further investigation. There is a need to capture and maintain wild cobia to provide contingency for the occurrence of reproductive abnormalities in captive-reared fish and to facilitate comparative developmental trials. There may also be a need to provide wild fish for the
development of a broodstock facility at PRF’s hatchery.

PRF has faced a number of challenges in commercialising cobia production. Predation and fish health have had major impacts on productivity over earlier production seasons. Whilst a number of innovative techniques have been implemented to reduce these impacts, there remains a need to improve and refine these further

There are currently no commercial hatcheries producing cobia; as such there remains a need for support from DAFF to supply juvenile fish for on-growing. Small-scale hatchery production at PRF was successful in producing juvenile cobia; however, there is a need to increase this to a commercial scale over the course of this project. DAFF will also supply larvae to continue the development of hatchery capability at PRF and to support PRF’s anticipated development of broodstock holding and maturation facilities.

Objectives

1. Transitioning to independent commercial productiona. Provide juvenile cobia for commercial grow out to further develop commercialisation of the speciesb. Further develop commercial larval rearing capacity through seed supply, technology transfer and staff exchange c. Technology transfer and staff exchange to develop capacity to maintain and spawn broodstock cobia
2. Expand cobia production to the wider industry
3. Improve production efficienciesa. Refine stocking rates and production densitiesb. Improved health management through routine sampling and early diagnosis, disease investigation and health trainingc. Implement methods to reduce predation
4. Analysis and identification of reproductive disorders in broodstock

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-7345-0458-6
Authors: Peter Lee Luke Dutney John Moloney Maria Mitris Trevor Borchert David Nixon Hazra Thaggard Brad Calcott Alyce Taylor-Brown Adam Polkinghorne
Final Report • 2018-09-12 • 2.61 MB
2014-242-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and the Cobia aquaculture sector, predominantly Pacific Reef Fisheries (PRF). It was undertaken to consolidate the aquaculture in Australia of Cobia, a species offering considerable potential as a diversification option for pond-based culture activities in Queensland. The project addressed key elements of the production cycle in order to move industry towards a more commercial footing and advance both the scientific knowledge and human capabilities of the sector. The project involved DAF staff at the Department’s Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC) and staff from the PRF farm in Ayr, North Queensland. From 2014-2017, research examined: health issues affecting Cobia in culture both in the hatchery and on-farm; the emerging issue of intersex in Cobia and potential for this to further impact production; capability development of PRF staff in preparation of the establishment of a commercial Cobia hatchery; and, the involvement of some new entrants to Cobia aquaculture utilising tank-based production systems.

The supply of a total of 59,700 fingerlings (26,300 in 2014/15; 18,100 in 2105/16 and 15,300 in 2016/17) enabled industry collaborators to maintain production at 100 T per annum, sufficient to continue to supply the market which has been developed over several years.   Losses incurred during one contracted fish transportation event, highlighted the risks associated with this activity. This was successfully addressed in two later transportation activities by adapting PRF’s own prawn transport system.

Health management continues to be a key activity on-farm, with parasites identified as a significant and ongoing difficulty. In the hatchery, catastrophic losses of larvae were diagnosed due to epitheliocystis, caused by chlamydia-like intracellular bacteria. Molecular testing however confirmed that the bacteria was not in the order Chlamydiales, unlike several other species causing epitheliocystis in fish. Management of the infection by oxytetracycline was demonstrated and this remains an effective means of control.

Intersex frequency was negligible in the cohort examined and these individuals demonstrated significantly different growth and reproductive development to intersex animals. Females grew larger than males and animals underwent normal maturation and were successfully spawned. Intersex was found to occur at negligible levels in this cohort (<1%), and sexually dimorphic growth was shown. Incidence of 0.5% was confirmed by destructive and non-destructive gonadal examinations. Growth rates were also followed and compared to cohorts known to have significant levels of intersex individuals. Animals were followed to maturity and gonadal development assessed using examination of gonadal biopsy samples. Individuals were also raised to maturity and induced to spawn with fecundity and fertilisation rates assessed.

The study has continued to demonstrate the viability of Cobia as a diversification options for prawn farms, particularly in North Queensland. While the commercial success of tank-based Cobia aquaculture is yet to be demonstrated, continued interest in this species is encouraging, particularly in relation to a potential role for Cobia as a diversification option for prawn farms in the Logan region, following the outbreak of white spot disease in 2016. The development of this sector of the industry may well occur in conjunction with new products being brought to market, potentially broadening options for industry and consumers. In providing prawn farms with diversification and therefore greater economic stability the project is contributing towards rural and remote business resilience and economic opportunities.

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