Advances in Tuna Aquaculture

From Hatchery to Market

Daniel Benetti, Gavin Partridge, Alejandro Buentello

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9780124114593
• eBook ISBN: 9780124115064
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Marine Biology
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Advances in Tuna Aquaculture: From Hatchery to Market provides detailed overviews on the current status of tuna fisheries, fattening, and farming practices, as well as advances in closed-cycle tuna aquaculture. Contributors are renowned scientists, internationally recognized as authorities in their fields. This book addresses all basic and applied aspects of tuna aquaculture, presenting and discussing the global status of tuna fisheries, reproduction, broodstock management, spawning, larval rearing and early developmental stages including nursery and grow out methods. It presents incorporates the most comprehensive and updated data, statistics, and trends in tuna fisheries and aquaculture, covering and addresses a variety of topics ranging fromfrom endocrinology, nutrition, diseases, and genetics to economics and markets. It covers describes recent up-to-date progress on tuna aquaculture and hatchery development. It also provides a synopsisn overview of the challenges presently confronted by tuna aquaculturists,facing tuna aquaculture and and offers innovative views on the challengesbottle-neck issues faced by the industry with the current shift from fisheries to fattening to closed-cycle aquaculture. This is the first book to encompass all aspects related to the tuna aquaculture industry, and merges them into a state-of-the-art compendium that will serve as seminal reference for students, researchers, and professionals working with tuna biology, fisheries, and aquaculture worldwide. - Incorporates and reviews the most recent information on tuna fisheries and aquaculture - Presents the most innovative production technologies in tuna aquaculture, from hatchery to market - Includes important information on tuna, derived from industry experience and academic research on larval rearing technology and grow out operations - Encompasses and discusses key topics such as genetics, diseases, nutrition, endocrinology, and reproduction, as well as developments, challenges, and future opportunities in tuna aquaculture - Provides the latest scientific methods and technologies to maximize efficiencies and production - Presents the independent and collective assessments, viewpoints, and visions of various scientists, all internationally recognized as authorities in the field

Chapter 1

Overview on Status and Technological Advances in Tuna Aquaculture Around the World

Daniel D. Benetti¹, Gavin J. Partridge^2,3 and John Stieglitz¹, ¹University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL, USA, ²Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research, Challenger Institute of Technology, Fremantle, WA, Australia, ³Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia

Abstract

The current status of tuna fiseries, fattening and farming practices, as well as advances in closed-cycle tuna aquaculture, are summarized. The emergence and expansion of tuna fattening and farming activities during the last four decades have led to a shift from traditional fisheries toward aquaculture. This change is entirely reshaping the tuna fishery industry and the management of their stocks worldwide. Tuna fattening and farming operations still rely primarily on wild-caught juveniles that are fattened using small pelagic fish, blurring the line between fisheries and aquaculture and merging these activities to the point that it is no longer possible to analyze them separately. Progress in fattening operations has been limited to improved management and decreased mortalities during the capture, towing, transferring, and feeding stages of the tuna in cages. However, tuna aquaculture is now rapidly changing due to remarkable progress in closed-cycle tuna aquaculture production through advancements in broodstock maturation, spawning, larval rearing, and juvenile production technologies. Indeed, following the pioneering achievement of closing the life cycle of the Pacific bluefin tuna (PBFT) in Japan, researchers the world over are now making significant progress in hatchery technology. Closing their life cycle and the development of ecologically and economically efficient feeds that meet the specific nutritional requirements of tuna are required to ensure the future of tuna production and the conservation of tuna species. Collective efforts by researchers, academics, and the global industry are making it possible to achieve these goals.

Keywords

Tuna hatchery; tuna fattening and farming; tuna aquaculture; overview

1.1 Introduction

Advances in Tuna Aquaculture is the first book that encompasses all aspects related to this industry and it merges them into a state-of-the-art compendium that points the reader in the right direction, whether a science student, a researcher, a fisherman, or a farmer. It presents developments in tuna aquaculture throughout the world, from ranching wild juvenile fish to closed-cycle cultivation of a variety of tuna species with a focus on the high-value bluefin species. Reputed experts in their fields provide detailed accounts of the various disciplines directly or indirectly associated with tuna aquaculture. This introductory chapter summarizes the content of the book and provides an outlook for the future of the industry.

Tuna are some of the best-known and highly regarded species of fish. While “tuna” refers to a large number of scombrid species including skipjacks (SJT), bonitos, bullets, and frigates, most people associate the term with the large, high-value species of the genus Thunnus such as bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna that roam the world’s oceans. Serving important ecological roles as both predator and prey, depending on the life stage of the fish, these species are now some of the most sought after marine fish for the global seafood market. The high market value of tuna stocks has led to intensified fishing pressure that, in turn, resulted in drastic population reductions in every ocean where these fish are found. High prices sustained by strong market demand also create opportunities for tuna ranching, which is arguably the most profitable form of fish farming in the world. Today, the practice of tuna ranching occurs at the intersection between the aquaculture and fisheries sectors which makes it difficult to consider them independently from each other. Complicating the issue is the fact that ranched tuna are typically fattened using wild-caught small pelagic fish species such as sardines and mackerel, as opposed to balanced diets, which is the case for the grow-out of other marine fish. With aquaculture now providing over half of the seafood consumed in the world, and future forecasts predicting consistent growth in global fish farming, it comes as no surprise that efforts to mass-produce tuna are following this trend.

Tuna industry stakeholders, from fishermen, farmers, and scientists to seafood business professionals and consumers, face enormous challenges and uncertainties when considering the sustainability of this industry. In an effort to better understand these issues and effectively manage the world’s tuna stocks, five regional intergovernmental fisheries organizations—the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and the International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)—study tuna populations and the biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors that influence these fisheries. In the present book, renowned scientists from both IATTC and ICCAT discuss important management challenges, as well as those brought about by the shift from traditional tuna fisheries to fattening (i.e., ranching) and farming, in Chapters 2 and 3.

While tuna fishing has been practiced for several millennia, tuna aquaculture is a relatively new industry. Although early tuna aquaculture efforts date back to the late 1960s, it was not until the early 1990s that industrial-scale ranching and farming developed into the modern industry that it is today. Similarly, research into closed-cycle aquaculture production of tuna began in the 1970s. However, due to the many challenges associated with hatchery production, the rewards of this protracted effort are only now being realized, with significant numbers of hatchery produced juveniles currently being put to sea, predominantly in Japan and to a smaller extent in Europe. The accomplishments by Japanese scientists, which represent an important milestone, have led to advances in hatchery technology throughout the world, and have made closed-cycle tuna production a reality.

It is difficult to accurately report on total global catches and farmed tuna production. Even data reported from the most credible and reputable sources are incomplete, contrasting, and often conflicting. This is reflected, to a great extent, throughout the different chapters of this book. According to the latest fisheries statistics available, catches of tuna and tuna-like species continue to increase and set a new record at more than 7 million metric tons in 2012 (FAO, 2014). However, the majority of this catch comprised low-value skipjack, primarily sold to the canning industry. Seven species have consistently accounted for about 90% of the total tuna catch since 2000. Catches of small tuna (such as skipjack, frigate, and bullet tuna), seer fishes (Scomberomorus spp.), and albacore have grown significantly. In 2012, catches of yellowfin tuna exceeded the 2000 level, after fluctuations in prior years, while bigeye tuna had the only decreasing trend with catches down by 5% (FAO, 2014).

The total volume of the higher value, fresh or frozen product destined primarily for the sashimi market, is approximately one-third of the total. The actual quantity of tuna produced via aquaculture is difficult to accurately quantify, and there is great disparity among the figures quoted by the various reporting agencies and governments. The reasons for these discrepancies are described in detail in a recent paper by Metian et al. (2014). The data from the FAO in Table 1.1 suggests that the annual global aquaculture production of bluefin tuna in the years between 2011 and 2013 ranged from ca. 9400 to 23,500 metric tons, however, this dataset omitted the production from several countries and underreported production from others. For example no production was included for Japan in 2011, the Australian production was underreported and the production of ABFT was listed as only ca. 3000 to 4000 metric tons, despite a TAC of ca. 13,000 metric tons during this period. We believe a more accurate estimate of the current total bluefin aquaculture production is that provided by Tveteras et al. (2015) of ca. 36,000 metric tons (Table 1.2). Tuna aquaculture production currently comprises only the three highly regarded bluefin species, namely, Pacific bluefin tuna (PBFT, Thunnus orientalis), Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT, Thunnus thynnus), and southern bluefin tuna (SBFT, Thunnus maccoyii). PBFT is cultured in Japan and Mexico, ABFT in several countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and SBFT only in Australia. While yellowfin tuna (YFT, Thunnus albacares) has previously been cultured in Mexico and Oman (see Chapter 8), there is currently no aquaculture production of this species. However, this is changing rapidly, as we are currently witnessing breakthroughs with YFT hatchery technology (Chapter 5).

Table 1.1

Aquaculture Production (metric tons) of Pacific, Southern and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna as Reported by the FAO

Country	Species	2011	2012	2013
Japan	PBFT		9639	10,396
Mexico	PBFT	3557	1784	6228
Australia	SBFT	1987	2486	3482
Croatia	ABFT	1610	1125	915
Spain	ABFT	575	555	305
Malta	ABFT	960	530	985
Turkey	ABFT	100	395	470
Tunisia	ABFT	70	220	630
Italy	ABFT	435	85	85
Greece	ABFT	95	30	55
Total		9389	16,849	23,551

Source: FAO (FishStat).

Table 1.2

Aquaculture Production (metric tons) of Pacific, Southern and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in 2014 as Reported by Tveteras et al. (2015)

Region	Species	2014
Japan	PBFT	9000
Mexico	PBFT	4500
Australia	SBFT	8350
Mediterranean	ABFT	14,500
Sum		36,350

Production volumes of bluefin tuna vary considerably between species and the regions in which they are grown, and also over time as catch quotas change. For recent years, indicative figures are summarized in Tables 1.1 and 1.2. While Japan is now the largest producer, this is a recent occurrence, and the production of Japanese farmed PBFT only exceeded that of ranched SBFT and ABFT in recent years (Tada, 2010).

As described throughout this book, the vast majority of tuna aquaculture production is still reliant upon the cap...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• List of Contributors
• About the Editors
• Chapter 1. Overview on Status and Technological Advances in Tuna Aquaculture Around the World
• Chapter 2. The Fisheries for Tunas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean
• Chapter 3. Challenges Faced by Management of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Stock Related to the Development of Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna Farming
• Chapter 4. From Ocean to Farm: Capture-Based Aquaculture of Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
• Chapter 5. Research on the Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares in Panama
• Chapter 6. Tuna Aquaculture in Europe
• Chapter 7. Reproduction, Broodstock Management, and Spawning in Captive Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
• Chapter 8. Tuna Farming in Japan and Mexico
• Chapter 9. Ranching of Southern Bluefin Tuna in Australia
• Chapter 10. Southern Bluefin Tuna Captive Breeding in Australia
• Chapter 11. Diseases in Tuna Aquaculture
• Chapter 12. Nutrition of Cultured Tuna Species
• Chapter 13. Genetics in Tuna Aquaculture
• Chapter 14. Tuna Economics and Markets
• Index