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Comparative Studies of the Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Two Tuna Species (Yellowfin Tuna and Pacific Bluefin Tuna) for the Sustainable Use of These Resources

Bioresources

Republic of Panama

Finished

Comparative Studies of the Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Two Tuna Species (Yellowfin Tuna and Pacific Bluefin Tuna) for the Sustainable Use of These Resources

Supporting Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture of Tuna, One of Japan's Best-loved Foods

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  SAWADA Yoshifumi
  Fisheries Laboratory, Kindai University

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Panama

Research Institutions in Japan

Kindai University

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Autoridad de Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) / Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2010

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Elucidating the riddles of tuna growth to create the foundation for full life cycle tuna farming
Yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna are caught by many countries including Panama and Japan, but overfishing and climate change are threatening stocks. Bluefin tuna were first reared from eggs in Japan, and here we are leveraging Japanese technology to improve the resource management technology essential to sustainable fisheries of both species, and also seeking to establish the foundation for the aquaculture of yellowfin tuna. We are focusing in particular on elucidating the reproductive biology of both species and ecology of larvae and juveniles, and developing technologies for predicting stocks as well as basic tuna culture technologies. The project also includes training and establishment of systems to enable both countries to sustain these approaches.

Elucidating reproductive ecology and early life history of yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna through rearing experiments
Experiments to elucidate mechanisms of reproduction and growth and survival of yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna were launched in May 2011 at research stations in Panama and Kinki University respectively. We will use our findings to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture of tuna in Panama, Japan, and the whole world by applying them to the prediction of changes in future stocks of both species and development of yellowfin tuna culture technologies.