Source: 9 News
Clean Seas Tuna is encouraged by the survival of some of the Southern Bluefin Tuna juveniles in its first sea trials to grow juvenile fish.
The fish farming company is researching ways to close the life cycle of Southern Bluefin Tuna in a bid to be a global leader in the sustainable aquaculture production of the sought-after fish.
No other company has managed to close the life cycle of the Southern Bluefin Tuna.
Closing the life cycle is the term for spawning the fish in captivity and growing them out to maturity.
The company says some of a batch of fingerlings survived more than 150 days since being transferred from onshore nursery cages at Arno Bay on SA’s Eyre Peninsula to Clean Seas Tuna’s offshore aquaculture facility for grow-out trials.
Managing director Clifford Ashby said this milestone has reinforced the company’s confidence in its research and development team as they move towards commercialization.
“Overall, we remain confident that commercialization of the Southern Bluefin Tuna life cycle at Arno Bay ... is a realistic objective and the company is highly encouraged by its first at sea, grow-out trials this season,†he said.
Mr Ashby said the few remaining juveniles from this year’s spawning program were not expected to survive upcoming sea temperatures about 11C to 12C.
“It was always anticipated that survival was unlikely as winter temperatures arrived, hence the continued survival is remarkable and builds on the significant knowledge gained for future trials and ultimate commercialization.â€
He believes greater survival will be achievable if there are bigger juveniles going into winter months.
Clean Seas will begin next season’s trials in December. It began them in January this season. It wants to move them forward by one month each season.
So the season after next would begin in November.