Success Begins to Spawn for Clean Seas Tuna

The spawning coincides with this weeks visit to Arno Bay of a high-level scientific delegation from Kinki University in Japan, comprising Professor Dr. Murata, Professor Dr Takii, Assistant Professor Dr Nakagawan and Dr Kato. Clean Seas and Kinki University signed an agreement to share protocols on the propagation and husbandry of tuna in August 2008. The larval rearing trials should continue over the next two months and key Kinki University staff will be assisting Clean Seas hatchery personnel at the Arno Bay facility.

Clean Seas Chairman, Mr Hagen Stehr AO, has praised the work of the senior research staff of Clean Seas, Kinki and Sunshine Coast Universities, and the Centre for Marine Biotechnology in Baltimore in upgrading the hatchery and operating procedures over the 11 months since the companys first spawning in March 2008. Mr Stehr also commented that this research commitment would not have been possible without the ongoing support of AusIndustry, The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Seafood CRC.

An R&D SBT larval grow-out system has been recently commissioned, Mr Stehr said. Dry pellet trials are progressing satisfactorily and we anticipate that this feed will be suitable for Clean Seas aquaculture-grown SBT fingerlings when they are successfully produced.

Mr Stehr advised the trials are scheduled to continue through to April 2009, and that the trials will materially assist the company in formalising their commercialisation plans for the aquaculture production of SBT commencing in summer 2009/10. Mr Stehr said shareholders should recognise the inherent risks involved with research and development projects of this complexity, and the need for the company to maintain an appropriate level of commercial confidentiality.

He said the results of the trials would, however, be advised to the market on or before April 2009.