more effort to go into tuna

More effort to go into tuna
CHRISTOPHER COOTE

08 Dec, 2009 12:30 AM
NEWS that the 190,000 northern bluefin tuna fingerlings Japan's Kinki University has put in sea cages could grow out to be the equivalent of the entire Australian southern bluefin tuna quota should send shockwaves through the industry.

Clean Seas Tuna founder and Stehr Group owner Hagen Stehr made the claim following last week's tuna propagation symposium in Adelaide, which attracted industry officials and scientists from around the world.

He said prior to the symposium he expected between 30 and 40 people to attend, but final figures should show between 130 and 140 people attended.

Mr Stehr said the symposium highlighted even further the need for faster progress on the propagation of SBT in Australia.

"Even the village idiot ... the village idiot can see that propagation is the only way to secure the industry in the future," he said.

Mr Stehr was told by overseas scientists during the symposium that the Mediterranean industry was "dead" after this year and it was unlikely it would recover from the extremely low stocks within the fishery.

He said other stocks around the world were also suffering with the exception of Australian fish stocks, which have been well managed for a number of years.

Over 100 scientists from around the world were involved in Clean Seas' breakthrough in breeding SBT at Arno Bay and more effort will be put into getting the process to a commercial stage. Australian Seafood CRC managing director Dr Len Stephens said the Seafood CRC and Clean Seas Tuna will be boosting their research and development efforts to bring commercial tuna production on line as soon as possible.

"Getting the tuna to breed in captivity was a fantastic start. We will now work on the specialist feeding and growing techniques needed to ensure a speedy path to market," he said.