Kali Tuna, a Croatian tuna farming company, on Tuesday announced it achieved a vital step in closed containment farming of Atlantic bluefin tuna (NBT).
Marine scientists at Split University in Croatia recently confirmed that gametogenesis was completed and a number of bluefin tuna eggs were spawned in cages off the coast of Croatia, at Kali Tuna’s Adriatic farming sites.
More than 800 brood stock were kept in a special cage since spring 2006, and the fish spawned successfully in the cage early this summer. Most of the eggs were released naturally into the water, while others were collected and later successfully hatched in a Split-based laboratory.
"The fact that the captive tuna has spawned without hormones or human assistance makes this a unique event," said Dr. Ivan Katavic, Split’s Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries head of laboratory and former assistant minister of fisheries in Croatia. "Our project was designed to break the code of the NBT's reproduction habits. We aimed to create a closed life cycle for the farming of the species and relieve the pressure on the existing fish in the world's oceans. This result is a significant step in that direction. The combination of the farming techniques of Kali Tuna and the location of their cages are the key to our achievement. Kali Tuna grows its fish for a longer period than most other farms. The combination of good husbandry and unique site conditions allows Kali Tuna to meet physiological requirements of brood stock to complete reproductive cycle in captivity."
