Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector within the food production industry. The Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO states that aquaculture produces over 30 per cent of the fish consumed throughout the world; a percentage that is set to increase to over 50 per cent by the year 2030.

For this increase to take place, a lot of research and development is taking place in all branches of aquaculture, such as feed quality, genetics, reproduction, cage structures and any other topic that deals with aquaculture and requires more development.

Any activity carried out by man has an environmental impact, but in the case of aquaculture, the impact is exaggerated and usually without scientific proof. Generally, aquaculture depends on a clean environment, as the fish need to be reared without problems so it is in the interest of the industry to keep the environment clean and thus prevent disease or other problems.

Research and development

Research and development has made great strides forward throughout the world, especially during the last 15 years. The fish feed industry is, for example, always carrying out research to formulate diets that are highly digestible and produce minimal waste, thus improving food conversion ratios and farm management. Moreover, fish meal and fish oils are gradually being replaced by proteins and oils from other sources so that the dependence on fish oils and protein is minimised – thus creating diets that are environment friendly.

Research in Malta

Malta is not lagging behind in the aquaculture research sector, as we look ahead to have a sustainable aquaculture industry that is environment friendly and economically viable. The Aquaculture Section at Fort San Lucjan in Marsaxlokk, under the direction of Dr Robert Vassallo-Agius, is taking part in research projects that breed marine species that have a high potential for aquaculture, namely the amberjack (accjol) and blue-fin tuna (tonn).

With these projects that are already underway or in the pipeline, Malta contributes towards closing the cycle for these species, thus producing fish for aquaculture purposes resulting in a decrease in pressure on the wild stocks of these species through fishing.

To date, Mediterranean farming of the amberjack and fattening of the blue-fin tuna is a capture based aquaculture; i.e. the fish are caught from the wild and reared in cages or pens. In the case of the amberjack, the Aquaculture Section within Fort San Lucjan in Marsaxlokk is in the second year of a five-year joint venture with a local private fish farm, Malta Fishfarming Ltd, for the development of breeding techniques of this species. Within this project known as the Amberjack Project, Malta has already developed techniques whereby fertilised eggs are collected, hatched and reared into juveniles. In fact, Malta is the first country to produce a relatively high number of juveniles within the Mediterranean region. In 2007, around 10,000 5g juveniles were produced. These results are very encouraging as we strive to continue development and improve various techniques in the years to come.

In the case of Blue-fin tuna, Malta is a partner in a 7th Framework EU project known as SELF-DOTT (SELF sustaining aquaculture – Domestication of Thunnus thynnus) that will start in 2008. This project looks at various aspects of Blue-fin tuna farming but the main focus is to produce fertilised viable eggs and rear them to juveniles. In the previous 5th Framework project that was known as REPRO-DOTT (Reproduction of Bluefin tuna), viable eggs were obtained, thus proving that Blue-fin tuna can mature and produce viable eggs and sperm in captivity. Eight countries are participating in the SELF-DOTT project: Spain, Israel, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and Malta.

Most of the experimental Blue-fin tuna will be based in Spain for trials on nutrition and reproduction; however one cage with Blue-fin tuna broodstock will be based in Malta for egg collection purposes. Malta will also contribute towards sampling from wild Blue-fin tuna so that more data on the maturation stages in the wild can be analysed. Malta will receive a total of EUR250,000 for the 3-year period of the project and will be participating through the Aquaculture Section of Fort San Lucjan and Malta Fishfarming Ltd.

Other research within Fort San Lucjan includes experiments on larval rearing of the amberjack and sea bream (awrat), where rearing experiments as well as experiments on diets for larvae are being carried out.

Dr Francis Agius is Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries