Culture of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) - FROM a Cuban PERSPECTIVE

Eduardo Raúl Flores*), Bjorn-Tore Lunestad**), Juan Carlos Carmona*), Morten Frost Hoyum***), Roberto Castelo*), Orjan Karlsen****), Pascual Rodríguez*), Finn Christian Skjennum*****), Noris Millares*), Rolf Engelsen******), Barbarito Jaime*), Lourdes Pérez*), Adrián Fagundo*), Raudel Cobo*), Maylee Pozo*), Manuel Medell*), Raquel Silveira*), Abel Betanzos*), Mercedes Isla*), Alexander Lópeztegui*), Rafael Tizol*), Gloria Rodríguez*) and Alexis Bravo*).
*) Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras (CIP), Calle 246 No. 503 e/5a Avenida y Mar, Reparto Barlovento, Municipio Playa, La Habana, Cuba, rflores@cip.alinet.cu
**) National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), P.O. Box 2029 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway, E-mail: blu@nifes.no
***) Frost Innovation AS, Finstadsvingen 13, 1406 Ski, Norway, E-mail: mortenhoyum@gmail.com
****) Institute for Marine Research, Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway, E-mail: orjan.karlsen@imr.no
*****) Aquaculture Management and Consulting, Sælenveien 121, 5143 Fyllingsdalen,
Norway, fchrissk@online.no
******) Centre for Development Cooperation in Fisheries (CDCF), P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes
5817 Bergen, Norway, rolf.engelsen@imr.no

Marine aquaculture is a sector with a high growth globally to improve fish supply and demand satisfaction. To improve the fish supply in Cuba, the five year Cuban-Norwegian project "Development of sustainable marine aquaculture in Cuba" were initiated in 2011. During a careful evaluation process by Cuban and Norwegian experts, Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) was chosen as the species for this project. The Cobia has been important in this area because it has a high growth rate, relatively easy reproduction and good nutritional and sensory qualities. The objective of this work was to increase the indigenous production of marine fish in Cuba, on the basis of a sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture activity. This project aims to cover all aspects of marine aquaculture, including the transfer of know-how and competence building in fish farm management, including Master studies at the University of Habana, establishment of a brood fish facility and fry production, establishment and operation of marine cages, feed production and post-harvest activities, as well as dissemination of project results. One important factor for choosing Cobia is that it is naturally occurring in the waters surrounding Cuba. In 2012 the global aquaculture production of Cobia were 41 774 tons. The fish has good adaptability and meat characteristics, and is a good candidate for culture and consumption in Cuba. So far, Cobia is not well known in Cuba, as its fishery is only sporadic. A part of the project activity was to disseminate information on Cobia as a fish suited for the Cuban market. During the current project, Cobia fingerlings has been imported from Ecuador and stoked at the Mariel station near Habana. After a quarantine period, the fish were transferred to cages in the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) for on-growth, and was harvested in September 2015. The fish was then on average of 2.86 kg round weight. Yields from different portions of the body of Cobia were determined, among which may be mentioned the following: Blood 0.8%, fillets with skin 52%, gut 12.7%, head 21% and remaining carcass 12.9%. This harvest is now to be made available for the Cuban market, partially replacing import of fish.