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Kinki Univ. Collaborates with United Arab Emirates for Tuna Aquaculture
May 28, 2010
Kinki University just signed an agreement with the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE); the agreement entails mutual support, e.g. exchanges of personnel, with the goal of development in aquaculture, mainly of bluefin, in the country.
Making the best use of the know-how cultivated by Kinki Univ., research and development in culture fisheries of tuna, e.g. bluefin, and grouper will be carried out.
Kinki Univ. is slated to dispatch specialists to Abu Dhabi to commence research on the country's suitability for fish farming and a pilot project. Additionally, the University will offer a short to medium term training opportunity for personnel of the Environmental Agency held in both Japan and Abu Dhabi. In return, Abu Dhabi agreed to cover necessary expenses and support.
All the details as to when to send off specialists, when to begin the research, and the amount of money needed, are yet to be determined. Including the possibility of bluefin aquaculture, these matters will be discussed subsequently.
Kinki Univ. set out to discuss the possibility of aquaculture programs, mainly of bluefin, in Abu Dhabi, in May 2009. Last October Secretary General of the Environment Agency, Majid Al Mansouri, paid a visit to the research institution of Kinki Univ. located in Wakayama Pref.
The University pulled off the unprecedented feat of producing seedlings of Southern bluefin in collaboration with an Australian aquaculture firm Clean Seas Tuna Ltd. The University furthermore reached academic agreements with Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Malaysia in 2004 and Chonnam National University in S. Korea in 2005. A joint research facility, the Aquaculture Scientific Research Development Center, was launched in Malaysia, where the introduction of tuna aquaculture is currently under consideration.
There is growing anticipation for the research on Atlantic bluefin in the Middle East by Kinki Univ., following the successes of the whole cycle aquaculture of bluefin and Southern bluefin.
The original article was published on May 28, 2010 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
Mediterranean Ranched Bluefin Show Slight Reduction
May 28, 2010
According to a stakeholder of Tsukiji Market, the combined Mediterranean bluefin tuna in captivity totaled 16,300 tons in 2009, down by 2,580 tons from 18,880 tons in 2008. The amount of tuna captured last year exhibited a slight decline to 11,650 tons. 4,650 tons of biennial tuna remained, ending in a supply decline of 2,500 tons.
3,000t Awaiting Customs Clearances Owing to Tighter International Regulation
Responding to ICCAT's stricter Atlantic bluefin regulation and the result of CITES, each country is showing a tougher stand on tuna trading. Tuna's entry to Japan, a frozen kind in particular, requires the signature of an observer; as a result nearly 3,000 tons of tuna await customs clearances.
The following is a total of bluefin tuna in captivity of each country in 2009: Mediterranean 16,300t (18,880t in 2008); Mexico 1,750t (3,000t in 2008); Japan 8,000t (4,700t in 2008); and Australia 6,000t (6,000t in 2008), a combined total of 31,500t (32,580t in 2008).
A breakdown of ranched tuna in Mediterranean by country is Spain 1,850t (1,710t in 2008); Croatia 0t captured, but 2,000t biennially (300t in 2008); Malta 4,600t captured and 850t biennially (3,000t in 2008); Tunisia 1,900t captured and 500t biennially (2,600t in 2008); Libya 0t (0t in 2008); and Turkey 2,000t and 1,000t biennially (4,060t in 2008); Italy 500t and 300t biennially (1,170t in 2008); and Greece 800t (700t in 2008).
The trend of this year's Mediterranean ranched tuna will be reactive to ICCAT's Atlantic bluefin tuna regulation and the CITES result, projected to be half of what was seen in 2009.
In addition, an Australian Southern bluefin quota is now 4,800 tons as a result of new tougher fishing rules; when the fish become ready to be shipped, the total will not exceed 6,000 tons. Producers of Australian Southern bluefin are demanding higher purchasing prices based on the reality of declining production; the Japanese market is not ready for price markups quite yet, not being able to find common ground with producers.
The original article was published on May 28, 2010 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
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