Tuna research wins again

Tuna research group

16 August 2010

SARDI Aquatics scientists are celebrating a double win – in June the Aquaculture team working on an Australian Seafood CRC project for Clean Seas Tuna shared in a CRC prize for Excellence in Research Innovation.

The project’s internationally recognised research breakthroughs led to the breeding and rearing of Southern Bluefin tuna in land-based hatcheries.

On August 13 they shared in the prestigious South Australian Science Excellence Awards for Scientific Collaboration for the same project.

The research success highlights the extensive collaborative effort over the past three years from more than 15 institutes around the world and across Australia including SARDI and its Propagation and Systems researchers Wayne Hutchinson, Dr Bennan Chen and Paul Skordas, supported by Aquaculture SPA leader Steven Clarke.

Other Australian researchers hail from Flinders University, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Tasmania, New South Wales Department of Industry and Investment and the Northern Territory Department of Regional Development, Primary Industries, Fisheries and Resources. This project is also supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

The CRC-produced video SBT spawning breakthrough explains the work (Youtube video).

Photo caption from left to right: Dr Jian Qin, Flinders Uni; Mike Thomson, R&D Manager CST; Dr Len Stephens, CEO Seafood CRC, Peter Dundas-Smith, Chairman, Seafood CRC Board; Dr Hagen Stehr AO, Initiator of SBT Propagation, CST; Dr Graham Mair, Leader Program 1, Seafood CRC; Jayne Gallagher, Leader Program 2, Seafood CRC; Steven Clarke and Dr Bennan, Chen, Aquaculture SPA, SARDI Aquatic Sciences; (at front -) Emily Mantilla, Leader Program 3, Seafood CRC.  Absent: Wayne Hutchinson and Paul Skordas from SARDI.