March 30, 2007

Australia's Clean Seas Tuna achieves breakthrough with bluefin tuna

Australia's Clean Seas Tuna is claiming a major breakthrough in its bid to breed southern bluefin tuna by successfully inducing male fish to release sperm at its Arno Bay breeding farm.

Clean Seas chairman Hagen Stehr said it was a major step towards achieving the company's long-term goal of breeding and growing tuna.

This is the first time that reproductive maturation of southern bluefin tuna een achieved under controlled conditions, Stehr said.

The breakthrough was possible with hormonal therapy developed in Europe to mimic the natural conductions.

The next step would be to have females produce eggs under hormonal therapy , Stehr said.

Stehr said the breakthrough was a significant achievement considering that it was only three months since the facility had been commissioned and the fish moved from the ocean.