As a result of its current limited availability, many seafood consumers have probably never tasted cobia; increasing supplies from aquaculture, combined with effective marketing of this firm-textured, white-fleshed fish will be critically important for future market expansion. Cobia has several desirable traits, most importantly a rapid growth rate and good flesh quality. "We believe that freshwater-raised cobia is the next chicken of the sea - one that will fill growing consumer demand for marine fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids without burdening the ocean's already depleted fish stocks," says Bill Martin, chairman Virginia Cobia Farms, LLC, Saltville. In addition, producers need to check on specific local and federal regulations with regard to approved chemicals and drugs for use on any food fish. In tank systems this food should be offered for at least the first four days, after which enriched, newly hatched enriched Artemia can be introduced, followed by weaning to dry feed at approximately 25-30 days post-hatch. There's one other plus. Here, broodstock fish for spawning were initially caught from the wild; however, after the species became subsequently farmed, 1.5-2 year old cobia (approximately 10 kg) are now selected from the grow-out cages and transported to onshore ponds. First dorsal fin with 7-9 (usually 8) short but strong isolated spines each depressed into a groove, not connected by a membrane, 28-33 rays. Anal fin similar to dorsal, but shorter; 1-3 spines, 23-27 rays. Cobia producers in Taiwan Province of China use both floating and sinking pellets (42-45 per cent crude protein, and 15-16 per cent lipid), typically fed 6 days a week at a rate of 0.5-0.7 per cent BW/day towards the end of the grow-out phase. ©2020 ‐ Hatch Accelerator Holding Limited, 7/8 Liberty Street, Cork, T12T85H, Ireland, Hatch Accelerator Holding Ltd, 7/8 Liberty St, Cork, T12 T85H, Ireland; CRO 617308. Broodstock collection generally involves capturing and transporting juvenile or adult wild-caught cobia (often during their natural spawning season) into the tank systems, where 2-3 year old fish will spawn either naturally or after being induced with photoperiod and temperature manipulations. Juvenile fish are found in both nearshore and offshore waters, often among Sargassum patches or weedlines where they seek shelter from predators and can feed.Cobia are opportunistic feeders and examinations of stomach contents have revealed various fish, shrimp, squid, and, in particular, crabs. For aquaculture to continue supplying the increasing demand for seafood worldwide, additional research into supplemental or alternative protein sources for use in feeds for species such as cobia is imperative. So far, a modest harvest of 1 fish/litre after weaning, regardless of the initial stocking rate is normal, although some promising research in the USA during 2005-2006 has resulted in the production of over 2 fish/litre and researchers are hoping to double that number in future trials. cobia prefer warm water (>20 ºC) and typically have annual migratory patterns that are established and predictable. Managing disease and parasite issues has been identified, particularly by the Taiwanese, to be one of the major challenges with regard to cobia culture so far. Since wild caught cobia does not represent a major fishery and the farming of cobia is in its infancy, details regarding the market and trade of this species are notably lacking. Pectoral fins pointed, becoming more falcate with age. These spawning ponds (400-600 m2 and 1.5 m deep) are stocked with 100 adult cobia at a sex ratio of 1:1. Spawning occurs in both nearshore and offshore waters where females release several hundred thousand to several million eggs (1.4 mm diameter) which are then fertilised by the attending males. Research on maintaining and extending the cobia spawning season in the USA has resulted in the production of fertilised eggs during 10 months of the year thus far, with the goal of realising year-round egg production in the future. This guide from the FAO Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme provides information on farming Cobia. China and Taiwan Province of China both find that the rapid growth rate and good flesh quality of cobia make it potentially one of the most important marine fish for future production. The current status of cobia farming in Asia and the activities being demonstrated elsewhere suggest that the farming of this species has a bright future. Grow-out production of cobia in cages is ongoing or has occurred in the Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, with additional projects reportedly planned for the USA mainland, the Caribbean and Central America; however, there was not any large scale commercial production of cobia reported in 2006 and the industry in the western hemisphere could be characterised as 'developing'.