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Alert issued as cobia, an invasive fish spreads in Pacific Ocean

Cobia live throughout the world’s oceans except in the Central and Eastern Pacific regions. Thought to be a promising fish for aquaculture, cobia were being raised in fish farms in Ecuador. In August 2015, a large number of young fish escaped their offshore grow-out cages.

Now cobia have been reported to have been found off the Colombian and Panamanian Pacific coast, an indication of their rapid spread from the escape site. Cobia are voracious carnivores, and could have far-reaching effects on fisheries and marine ecology in the Eastern Pacific say Smithsonian scientists.

Quoted in Science News Online, D. Ross Robertson, staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute says, “The havoc caused by invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish throughout the Caribbean provides a compelling lesson about the strong adverse effects that alien marine fish can have on native ecosystems.”

And like the lionfish, the cobia is an unusual predator because of not having any near relatives. Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, are the only species in its family and are closely related to ramoras or sharksuckers. Robertson says this potentially increases the risk of cobia causing major disruption to the marine ecosystem.

Scientists are concerned about cobia because of what they eat. They prefer crustaceans (especially crabs), squid and fish. They also adapt well to variations in water temperatures and salinity, sometimes being found in estuaries and mangrove swamps.

The cobia has been rated as one of the world’s most suitable fish for warm, open-water marine fish aquaculture. Today, the cobia is being cultured in nurseries and offshore grow-out cages in parts of Asia, the United States, Mexico, and Panama.

While Smithsonian scientists are correct in voicing their concerns about the impact the cobia may have on native species in the Eastern Pacific, like the lionfish, chances are that nothing can be done to stop the invasion. Just as man was responsible for the lionfish being loosed off the coast of Florida over 10 years ago, the cobia was also introduced by man.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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