Bluefin Tuna breeding programme success

[John]

A WORLD-leading attempt by Clean Seas Tuna in South Australia to commercially breed Southern Bluefin Tuna has overcome a major hurdle with its fingerlings successfully transferred to sea cages.

The first transfer was undertaken on Friday and another batch will be transferred tomorrow.

Clean Seas Tuna managing director Clifford Ashby said in Port Lincoln, South Australia's seafood capital on the Eyre Peninsula, about 660km from Adelaide, that the world-first transfer was a success.

"It is not only a critical stage for Clean Seas Tuna, but also places Australia at the forefront of technological initiatives being undertaken in global marine aquaculture," Mr Ashby said.

Spawning started on January 20 and batches of fingerlings were transferred to nursery tanks from February 24.

The fingerlings were eating kingfish larvae and were being weaned on to man-made feeds. Mr Ashby said the fingerlings were being fed "every hour, on the hour, weather permitting".

/>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/south-australian-company-completes-bluefin-tuna-breeding-program/story-e6frg6n6-1226021122903