Since 2000 the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) is participating in several research
projects on BFT culture with the aim of contributing of the Domestication of this species, for
improving the productive process and reducing the pressure on the wild stock as it has already
happened with other full cycle cultured species

de-la-Gándara, F. (Fernando)

Ortega-García, A. (Aurelio)

English

Repositorio Institucional Digital del IEO

Eight years of research on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) culture at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO)

EIGHT YEARS OF RESEARCH ON BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS THYNNUS)CULTURE AT THE SPANISH INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (IEO)F. de la Gándara and A. Ortega1 Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Planta de Cultivos Marinos. Carretera de la Azohía s/n. 30860-Puertode Mazarrón (Murcia - Spain)E-mail: fernando@mu.ieo.esIntroductionThe Atlantic Bluefin tuna (BFT, Thunnus thynnus, L. 1758) is an emblematic fish exploitedduring centuries in the entire Mediterranean area, especially in the South of Spain, Morocco andItaly, where it is captured using a set net called in Spanish Almadraba. Some authors have pointedout that the BFTwas already fished by the hominids living in the South of Spain, 20.000 years ago(Cort, 2007).From the end of the 1990’s, especially in the Murcia Region (Spain) as well as in manyMediterranean countries, an activity what is called “fattening” has been carried out. This onesinvolves the capture, during the months of May-June, of adult individuals, which enter forreproduction purposes in the Mediterranean sea. Once captured, tunas are introduced in floatingcages where they stays for a six months period fed with highly fat content fish. After this period,the tunas are slaughtered and sent to the Japanese markets (Ottolenghi et al., 2004). But theoverfishing of the wild stock is threatening its conservation as it is pointed out by many experts(Fromentin and Powers, 2005) and in a special manner by the International Council forConservation of the Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).Since 2000 the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) is participating in several researchprojects on BFT culture with the aim of contributing of the Domestication of this species, forimproving the productive process and reducing the pressure on the wild stock as it has alreadyhappened with other full cycle cultured species.Projects(2000-2001) Development of electro-slaughtering and electro-stunning techniques to the Bluefintuna sector. 2000-2001. Funded by Programm PEITT: 200.000 _0length Coordinator: Joaquín RocaDorda. University of Cartagena (Spain). The main result was the improvement of tuna meatquality when slaughter on tuna farms was carried out using electrostunning and electrofishingtechniques which have been used with small freshwater fishes for a century. This method waschosen because it offers a number of advantages: selection capacity and low stress level for tuna.Due to the large difference between freshwater and seawater conductivity, the discharge isapplied using a harpoon rather than by generating an electric field. (see Soto et al., 2006)(2001-2002) Domestication of Thunnus thynnus, the Blue Fin Tuna. Strategies for EuropeanDevelopment in the Context of a Global Market (DOTT) (Q5AM-2001-00063). Funded by EC:100.000 _0length. Coordinator: Hillel Gordin NCM-IOLR (Israel). Objectives: a) Organize anInternational Symposium entitled “Domestication of Thunnus thynnus, the Bluefin Tuna –Strategies for Sustainable European Development in the Context of a Global Market” in whichstate of the art would be presented and discussed, b) Initiate discussions on European RTDprojects in which the BFT will be the subject organism towards the domestication of this species.The projects will involve scientific as well as industrial partners, c) Commission a preliminary185study on “The First Socio-economical Indicators” and d) Initiate an international cooperation indeveloping the technologies require for the domestication of the BFT (Europe, USA, Japan,Australia). (see Anon, 2003)(2002-2004) Development of a visual automated inspection to control the quality of the bluefintuna meat (SIVATUN). Funded by Murcia Regional Community (Spain): 5.000 _0length .Coordinator:Joaquín Roca Dorda University of Cartagena (Spain). The main target of this project consisted ofdeveloping an automated system of visual inspection that allows the determination of the meatquality of the BFT. The ultimate aim was to establish quality indicators and classifiersaccompanying tuna meat from the capture and that way making it possible to track this product inthe main tuna meat export markets. (see Mateo et al., 2006).(2003-2006) Domestication of Thunnus thynnus, the bluefin tuna (BFT). A Feasibility Study onits Reproduction in captivity (REPRO-DOTT). (Q5RS-2002-01355). Funded by EC: 1.5 M _0length.Coordinator: Antonio García, IEO (Spain). The REPRODOTT Project has demonstrated thatBFT is able to mature and spawn in captivity and also is feasible to obtain viable larvae. Thepropagation of BFT in captive conditions may alleviate the fishing pressure on wild BFT stockwhich are now using for farming purposes and contributes to a real self-sustained aquaculture inthe Mediterranean (see Mylonas et al., 2007).(2006-2007) Advances in Domestication of Bluefin tuna. Capture and Domestication of thebluefin tuna juveniles (ADAR-AJAR). Funded by the IEO (Spain). Coordinator: Fernando de laGándara, IEO (Spain). In this Project the knowledge-base of the capturing and handling BFTjuveniles (young of the year, around 1 kg) was achieved (see De la Gándara andOrtega, 2007).(2008-2010) From capture based to SELF-sustained aquaculture and Domestication Of bluefintuna, Thunnus Thynnus (SELFDOTT). Funded by EC: 3 M _0length. Coordinator: Fernando de laGándara. IEO (Spain). SELFDOTT proposes to implement knowledge already obtained on theartificial control of reproduction of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT), Thunnus thynnus, to obtainviable eggs, and study embryonic and larval development for the production of fry (juveniles). Atthe same time, suitable and environmentally performing feeds for the growth of BFT will bedeveloped, thus reducing or eliminating the practice of raw fish importation and feeding by thefattening industry.ReferencesAnon. 2003. Domestication of Thunnus thynnus – DOTT. Proceeding of the first international Symposium held atthe University of Cartagena, Spain, Cah.Options Meditèrr. Nº 60: 198 pp.Cort, J. L. 2007. El enigma del atún rojo reproductor del Atlántico Nororiental. Bedia Artes Gráficas, S.C.,Santander. 64 pp.De la Gándara, F., Ortega, A., Belmonte, A., Mariadolores, E. and Bermúdez, L. 2007. Preliminary results ofcapture, transport and adaptation to captivity of young of the year bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). In EASSpec. Publ. 37:Fromentin, J. M. and Powers, J. E. 2005. Atlantic bluefin tuna: population dynamics, ecology, fisheries andmanagement. Fish and Fisheries. 6 : 281- 306.Mateo, A.; Soto, F., Villarejo, J. A., Roca-Dorda, J., De la Gándara, F. and García-Gómez, A. 2006. Qualityanalysis of tuna meat using an automated color inspection system. Aquacultural Engineering. 35 : 1- 13.Mylonas, C.C., Bridges, C.R., Gordin, H., Belmonte, A.., Garcia-Gomez, A., De la Gándara, F., Fauvel, C.,Suquet, M., Medina, A., Papadaki, M., Heinisch, G., De Metrio, G., Corriero, A., Vassallo-Agius, R.,Guzman, J.M.., Mañanos, E. and Zohar, Y. 2007. Preparation and administration of gonadotropin-releasinghormone agonist (GnRHa) implants for the artificial control of reproductive maturation in captive-rearedAtlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus). Reviews in Fisheries Science. 15(3) : 183- 210.Ottolenghi, F., Silvestri, C., Giordano, P., Lovatelli, A. and New, M. B. 2004. Capture-based aquaculture. FAO,Rome. 308 pp.Soto, F.; Villarejo, J. A., Mateo, A., Roca-Dorda, J., De la Gándara, F. and García-Gómez, A. 2006. Preliminaryexperiences in the development of bluefin tuna Thunnus Thynnus (L.,1758) electroslaughtering techniques inrearing cages. Aquacultural Engineering. 34(2) : 83- 91.186

de-la-Gándara, Fernando

Ortega-García, Aurelio

Digital.CSIC

http://www.repositorio.ieo.es/e-ieo/bitstream/10508/1011/1/5216.pdf

Eight years of research on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) culture at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO)

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