Captive Reproduction, Hatchery Research and Production of Endothermic Pacific Bluefin Tuna Juveniles:Toward Responsible Pacific Bluefin Tuna Mariculture in the United States

Tuna ranching is dependent on wild-captured fish and the current operational model is largely unsustainable as it increases fishing pressure on the Pacific bluefin tuna (PBFT) wild stock. Recent ISC (International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean) assessments indicate that this stock is "alarmingly overfished", while experiencing high exploitation rates. Regulatory measures alone do not work well in protecting endangered populations of fish.This proposal is a proactive private-public partnership between Ichthus Unlimited, Texas A&M University, the Unified Port of San Diego (SD) and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, which will collaborate to address this fundamental problem with a practical approach. Specific objectives are: 1. Establish a brood stock population of PBFT at the North Coronado Island, 2. Use fertilized eggs for production of larvae and juvenile fish, 3. Establish a PBFT hatchery in the Port of SD and 4.Grow PBFT from early juvenile to advance juvenilein a protected environment. In addition, this proposal has the potential to assist in population restoration efforts which are desperately needed.The hatchery will be established in southern California, likelyin the SD Bay area. Target customers are tuna ranchers, initially, those located south of SD (export market). The Mexican tuna ranching industry is the initial aim for several reasons: it is a well-established, sizeable, niche market that can be easily serviced from the US. Due to the present fishing limitations and stringent quota system the product of PBFT hatchery technology would find eager buyers in tuna ranchers. Preliminary estimates of the market size are $22 - 44 M/y. However, when permitting policy catches up with the federal legislation and tuna ranching can be pursued in the US (expected before the completion of this project), this research would provide an exceptional opportunity for the US to culture this highly-valued fish.