| Program 1 (Production Innovation) Southern Bluefin Tuna Research Projects |
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2007/717 - Southern Bluefin Tuna maturation and sexing - 2008/712 - Second generation tuna feeds 2008/718 - Southern Bluefin Tuna larval/juvenile rearing 2008/723 - Development of a genetic mangement and improvement strategy for temperate marine finfish _____________________________________________ |
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Resolving Larval Rearing, Juvenile Development and Productivity Constraints for Propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna
About the Project Research on Southern Bluefin Tun aquaculture is critical for achieving a stable tuna aquaculture industry in Australia by reducing reliance on the wild harvest of Southern Bluefin Tuna and providing opportunity for growth of the sector. Investment in this project will enable a systematic research and development approach to overcoming some key constraints to commercial production of hatchery reared Southern Bluefin Tuna which when achieved will result in an industry worth in excess of $200m by 2020. Project Objectives 1. To produce quality fertilised Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs for use in larval rearing, weaning trials and for commercial production of juveniles. 2. To establish protocols and methods for the commercial production of juveniles to support a propagated tuna aquaculture industry. 3. To develop cost effective feed protocols and sources for growing Southern Bluefin Tuna hatchery reared fingerlings ready for transfer and grow out in sea cages and to develop/evaluate a cost effective feed pellet for grow out of wild caught and hatchery produced Southern Bluefin Tuna that achieves an FCR of 4.5:1 or better without compromising flesh quality. 4. Develop a range of options for genetic improvement of cultured stocks and implement cost effective strategies that will achieve efficiency, productivity and market gains. ____________________________________________________ |
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Southern Bluefin Tuna Maturation and Sexing - Develop and Apply New Technologies
About the Project The closing of the lifecycle of tuna requires that reproductively mature broodstock are available and will spawn naturally or in response to environmental manipulations and/or hormonal manipulations. Currently Clean Seas Tuna Ltd have Southern Bluefin Tuna in a temperature and light controlled broodstock facility. The tuna demonstrated spawning activity in the stock and the release of milt in the male tuna and spawning activity in the females. This project will develop capabilities and tools to enhance the prospects of tuna propagation. Project Objectives 1. Develop sedation, handling and sampling techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna. 2. Develop and apply tools for the characterisation of reproductive development and sex determination of captive Southern Bluefin Tuna. 3. Manipulate reproductive development of Southern Bluefin Tuna using environmental and hormonal interventions. ___________________________________________________ |
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Addressing the Key Aquatic Animal Health Issues Limiting the Production of Australian Yellowtail Kingfish and Hatchery Reared Southern Bluefin Tuna Industries
About the Project Controlling flukes is a major cost for producers and the industry has identified improving the treatment of flukes as one of the top research priorities. The project aims to develop palatable feeds containing medication that will significantly reduce the burden of flukes. This project will also address the issue of changing biofouled nets, addressing the issue of increased salinity and whether this slows growth first in summer and if not, then in winter. Health issues will also be addressed through development of healthy protocols and a surveillance program. Project Objectives 1. Develop a health protocol for hatchery reared larval Southern Bluefin Tuna and preserve samples for future archival diagnostic analysis. ____________________________________________________
About the Project The aim of this project is to develop a food supply for rearing tuna fingerlings to growout. Feed supply both in the larval rearing and juvenile area is one of the success limiting factors and this project will concentrate on developing a feed supply for juveniles. Project Objectives 1. The availability of a viable manufactured feed supply in Australia to support the propagated tuna industry and the Southern Bluefin Tuna wild caught farming industry. 2. To compare the best practice marine larval and nursery rearing techniques across a range of leading Australian marine finfish hatcheries with propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs and larvae. 3. To define a successful set of larval rearing protocols, weaning strategies and nursery rearing techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna in a commercial hatchery situation. _____________________________________________________ Southern Bluefin Tuna Larval/Juvenile Rearing
About the Project This project aims to establish protocols and methods for the commercial production of Southern Bluefin Tuna juveniles to support a propagated tuna aquaculture industry. Project Objectives 1. To produce a small batch of healthy Southern Bluefin Tuna juveniles ready for transfer to sea cages. 2. To compare best practice marine larval and nursery rearing techniques across a range of leading Australian marine finfish hatcheries with propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs and larvae. 3. To define a successful set of larval rearing protocols, weaning strategies and nursery rearing techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna in a commercial hatchery situation. ____________________________________________________ |
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The Development of a Genetic Management and Improvement Strategy for Temperate Marine Finfish
About the Project Yellowtail Kingfish, Mulloway and propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna are all considered as key species for the emerging sector of marine finfish aquaculture. Whilst Southern Bluefin Tuna propagation has yet to commence, both Yellowtail Kingfish and Mulloway have been bred in captivity for years but production remains dependent on seed from wild caught broodfish. It is recognised that this industry sector needs to move forward and capture the advantages from domestication of the key species and implement a genetic management and, as appropriate, genetic improvement strategy to significantly enhance profitability of production over that possible producing what are essentially wild animal which are in no way genetically adapted to the captive environment. Domestication selection and subsequent genetic improvement will address some of the key constraints to the expansion of this industry sector. Project Objectives 1. Develop a range of options for genetic improvement of cultured stocks and implement cost effective strategies that will achieve efficiency, productivity and market gains. ___________________________________________________ |
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The Advancement of Reproductive Development in Southern Bluefin Tuna Using Hormonal Manipulations of Kisspeptin, the Gatekeepers of Puberty
About the Project The capture and maintenance of Southern Bluefin Tuna broodstock over many years, until they reach sexual maturation at the age of 11, 12 or 13 years, is both very expensive and very risky. When the fish do reach the age of sexual maturity, they are very large (over 150kg) and hard to handle. This project will use recent advances in mammalian and fish reproductive physiology, i.e the Kiss system, to advance pubertal development in Southern Bluefin Tuna. The aim is to reduce the time it takes to reach sexual development. The success of this project would facilitate the availability of a larger number of Southern Bluefin Tuna broodstock capable of reproducing, reduce the size of the reproductively active broodstock and thus ease their handling and will open the way for a sustainable production of Southern Bluefin Tuna seed. Project Objectives 1. Developing the tools for the determination of the baseline levels of key reproductive hormones (including KiSS1 and its receptor) around the time of puberty and during reproductive development to enable the design of an hormonal treatment for advancing puberty. 2. The development and optimisation of an hormonal manipulation procedure for the advancement of ___________________________________________________ |
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| This page was last updated: 2nd April 2009 | ||
