This paper describes advances in hatchery and growout technology of cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Linnaeus). In 2007, methods for capture, transport, acclimation, sampling, conditioned spawning, larval rearing, ¢ngerling production, nursery, shipping and grow-out have been perfected. Survival rates ranging from 17.5% to 35% were achieved from egg to shipping size ¢ngerlings (1.0 g) in 2007 at the University of Miami Experimental Fish Hatchery, with production of approximately 20 000 ¢ngerlings per 12000 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 ¢sh 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.

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With aquaculture steadily expanding, the need for suitable space has been followed by the development of more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable methodologies. Avoiding possible conflicts between the development of commercial aquaculture operations and the environmental impact in coastal areas, utilizing the offshore environment offers the greatest potential for expansion of the industry in most regions throughout the world. Although currents and greater depths generally increase the assimilation capacity and energy of the offshore environment and offer many advantages for aquaculture, a number of challenges associated with developing any activity in the open ocean environment must be taken into consideration. This article summarizes these advantages and challenges, focusing on the first and most crucial step for project development: site selection criteria for open ocean aquaculture. Although most of the concepts and criteria are common to other marine net pen aquaculture operations, we review and present those conditions that are inherent to the open ocean environment and must be considered before developing any offshore aquaculture activity. These encompass basic premises; assumptions; logistics; infrastructure; availability of manpower, services, and materials; legal framework; socioeconomic and political issues; and oceanographic, biological, environmental, and technological criteria. There are no defined set of criteria, as most are interacting and not fixed but interdependent (e.g., depth vs. current velocity). However, suitable sites must meet basic crucial standards summarized here.Site selection is one of the most important decisions for the establishment of a fish farm operation. Satellite images, hydrographic charts, maps, Google Earth, and Geographic Information Systems can all provide important information for preliminary work on site assessment; however, a very careful in situ survey is mandatory to evaluate the suitability of the area.

Year‐round control of the spawning cycle of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) has been established by using water temperature manipulation. To compare the effectiveness of using this method to induce volitional spawning in cobia, two 80 m3 recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) were used. Temperatures in one of the maturation tanks (‘Mat 1’) were maintained between 27 and 29°C for 12 months of the 15.5‐month study period. Temperatures in the second maturation tank (‘Mat 2’) were allowed to fluctuate naturally throughout the year and ranged from 20 to 32°C. A total of 101 spawning events occurred in the tanks between the spring of 2008 and the summer of 2009 (3 April 2008 to 17 June 2009). Of the 38 total spawning events in Mat 1, 17 of them (44.7% of all Mat 1 spawning events) occurred during the off‐season (fall and winter). The egg viability rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between on‐ and off‐season spawns in Mat 1. Conversely, cobia broodstock exposed to natural water temperatures (no environmental manipulation) in Mat 2 followed the natural pattern of warm water (>26°C) dependence, limiting egg production to spring and summer seasons. This method of water temperature manipulation allows for effective control of the cobia reproductive cycle without compromising egg viability.

-Among warm-water marine fishes, cobia is one of the best aquaculture candidate species in the world.Currently there are commercial culture operations in several Asian countries and the industry has started developing elsewhere, including the Western Central Atlantic region. Significant research has been conducted at the University of Miami's Aquaculture Program / University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) during the last eight years, involving research to develop and optimize advanced technology to demonstrate the viability of raising hatchery-reared cobia in collaboration with the private sector. This paper reviews some of this recent advances for the development of Hatchery-to-Market Aquaculture Technology for commercial production of cobia.Key Words: cobia, commercial aquaculture, research, sea cages Tecnologia da criação de beijupirá (Rachycentron canadum) : recentes avanços do Laboratório de Larvicultura Experimental da Universidade de MIAMI (UMEH)RESUMO -Dentre os peixes marinhos de águas quentes, o bijupirá é um dos grandes candidatos para a aquacultura no mundo.Atualmente, existem operações comerciais em vários países Asiáticos e a indústria iniciou suas operações em outros locais, incluindo a região do Atlântico Central. Pesquisas têm sido realizadas no "University of Miami's Aquaculture Program / University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH)" durante os últimos oito anos envolvendo o desenvolvimento e otimização de tecnologia avançada para demonstrar a viabilidade da criação de bijupirá com colaboração com o setor privado.Este artigo revisa alguns destes avanços recentes para o desenvolvimento da tecnologia da larvicultura para o mercado para a produção comercial de bijupirá.

Growth rates of larval and juvenile bigeye scad Selar crumenophthalmus reared in captivity were studied. The results are presented, discussed, and compared to wild S. crumenophthalmus and other pelagic fish. S. crumenophthalmus are a small pelagic carangid fish of circumtropical distribution. Larvae were reared in a modified mesocosm system and sampled daily for growth. Larvae grew to a mean size of 4.74 cm (Standard Length) and 1.30 g by 45 days post hatch (dph). Larval length-at-age was best described by the exponential equation Y = 1.966e0.0704t. For juvenile growth trials, 1940 fish were stocked into four 2.5 m3 cylindro-conical tanks at two different densities (262 fish m-3 and 120 fish m-3) and reared from 45 dph to subadult stage. Fish were sampled daily for growth. No statistically significant differences in growth or survival were detected between tanks. Mean length and weight at 141 dph was 13.24 cm (Total Length) and 25.20 g. Juvenile length-at-age was best described by the Von Bertalanffy Growth Model equation Lt  = 27.75(1 – e-0.03(t-1.57)). Weight-at-age was best described by a linear equation Wt = 1.7313x + 12.4662. The exponent of the length-weight equation was 3.14. In addition to providing the first published description of larviculture and juvenile growout techniques for S. crumenophthalmus, this study contains the first published data on this species’ larval growth and directly confirms estimates of S. crumenophthalmus juvenile growth done by other researchers using indirect techniques such as otolith daily growth increment and frequency distribution analysis.