The Pingtung County Government announced that it has made significant progress in introducing yellowfin tuna aquaculture on Xiaoliuqiu Island.
“Taiwan leads all countries in Asia in terms of experiments on the commercialisation of yellowfin tuna breeding”, said Wu Long-jing, director of a marine resources center at the Fisheries Research Institute in charge of carrying out the testing in cooperation with the county government.
“Japan is the only country in the world to have perfected aquaculture technology for the breeding of bluefin tuna,” Mr Wu noted.
Some 200 yellowfin tuna with an average weight of around four kilograms have been raised since testing began in November of last year with the introduction of fry into fish farms set up for the experiment in the seas off the coral island, located some 15 kilometers west of Donggang Township in Pingtung, according to the county government.
The county’s bluefin tuna festival has been successful in boosting tourism, but it has also led to criticism that it runs counter to conservation efforts.
“With success in breeding yellowfin tuna, protection work can proceed hand in hand with the fisheries industry”, said Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung. (SB)
Success In Yellowfin Tuna Breeding
TAIWAN Pingtung county is experiencing success in its yellowfin tuna breeding. This success enhances Taiwan's position as the leader of all other Asian countries in commercialisation of yellowfin tuna breeding, reports Taiwantoday.
