Caged fish to boost Australian tuna quota

Australia's southern bluefin tuna quota which was cut in October, could be increased by aquaculture-bred fish within five years, world aquaculture scientists have been told.

The 23-percent cut in Australia's tuna catch was imposed in October to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.

The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna reduced Australia's quota of southern bluefin tuna from 5,265 tonnes to 4,015 tonnes.

But Clean Seas Tuna founder Hagen Stehr says the company was poised to produce 25,000 southern bluefin tuna juveniles at its land-based breeding facility at South Australia's Arno Bay in the coming year after achieving a world-first in successfully breeding the fish.

In the medium term, Stehr says the company could effectively duplicate Australia's wild catch quota every year, noting that aquaculture was the only viable means of meeting a growing global demand for protein-rich seafood.

According to him, aquaculture is expected to grow to supply more than 50 percent of global seafood production within the next two to three years.

He also added that bluefin tuna is poised to contribute strongly to filling the gap between supply and demand for healthy seafood.