SINGAPORE: For the first time, fish farmers in Singapore have successfully bred the cobia or Black Kingfish for commercial sale.

Starting this weekend, the first batch of cobias will be sold in the open market.

Already, six Japanese restaurants have snapped up the first 500 cobias.

The batch is not only fresh, but cheaper by some 50 per cent than imported frozen ones from Thailand and Vietnam.

From February next year, some 5,500 cobias will be ready for market.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has been trying out a new way of breeding cobias since 2005.

The cobia, with its high levels of vitamin E and protein, is said to be an excellent fish for sashimi.

- CNA/ir