Malta studying aquaculture system for breeding of tuna

Malta's progress in aquaculture research is being acknowledged, as shown by the fact that the country has been asked to participate in the SELFDOTT programme together with scientists from seven other countries, Minister George Pullicino said.

Whilst visiting the aquaculture centre at Fort San Lucjan on Tuesday, the Minister said that the progress being made in the field has brought more foreign investment to the country as well as the acknowledgement of Malta as one of the main centres in the Mediterranean in the industry.

The Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs explained that the SELFDOTT programme -- which runs over three years and for which Malta will receive €246,000 -- aims at developing self-sufficient aquaculture systems for the breeding of tuna.

Minister Pullicino stressed on the importance of the programme particularly in view of the efforts to safeguard the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, a species which is risking extinction.

He went on to say that the invitation to participate in the programme is a certification for the excellent work being done by the biologists and workers at Fort San Lucjan and follows the successful participation in the REPRODOTT programme -- which was aimed at developing new techniques for the breeding and domestication of tuna -- and the success in the breeding of amberjack ('accjol').

On his part, Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius said that the aquaculture industry has developed from nothing and in the last 17 years has become an important pillar in the Maltese economy.

He added that until now the industry has been based on the breeding of two species, namely gilthead sea bream ('awrat') and sea bass ('spnott'), but there was the need to diversify the market and thus the possibility of breeding amberjack and tuna was being explored.