Clean Seas to take tuna to market by 2009

Clean Seas Tuna Limited said that extensive trials in 2007 and 2008 led to the world’s first onshore Aquaculture production of fertilised Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs and viable larvae.

The company said it expected to reach its ultimate goal of commercialisation of fingerlings in 2009.

Managing director Marcus Stehr trials are ongoing and male Southern Bluefin tuna are continuing to spermiate and are being closely monitored and recorded.

Chairman Hagen Stehr said that the latest trials have resulted in the production of not only fertilized eggs, but also SBT larvae for initial maturation trials.

“The result coupled with critically important ongoing support from leading scientists, surpassed our wildest expectations so early in the program and will give us the necessary skills and experience to realistically plan for SBT fingerlings,” he said.

“Whilst there are still a number of challenges to overcome, in reaching fingerling production, I strongly believe, we have now proven the dream can and will become reality.”

He noted that the company was urgently upgrading its infrastructure, putting disciplines in place and conditioning brood stock for more trials in the foreseeable future. Clean Seas has its hatchery complex in Arno Bay, South Australia.

Mr Stehr concluded by saying due to the nature of research and development programs and the trials, combined with the sensitivity of the project, the company wouldn’t be able to release any further information going forward.