Minoan Sea Culture

Annual coordination and dissemination meeting of the EU 7th FP programme SELFDOTT.
In the week of 1-5 February 2010, the annual coordination and dissemination meeting of the EU 7th FP programme SELFDOTT (From capture based to SELF-sustained aquaculture and DOmestication of bluefin tuna, Thunnus Thynnus) was held at the facilities of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research in Crete, Greece.
The objectives of the research programme include (a) the study of reproduction of the Atlantic bluefin tuna in captivity and the induction of spawning and production of viable eggs, (b) the development of larval rearing methods and the production of juveniles for on-growing in sea cages and (c) the development of an appropriate and environmentally performing commercial feed; all necessary steps for the domestication of the Atlantic bluefin tuna and the transition from a capture-based, fattening industry, to a self-sustain real aquaculture industry.
The meeting was attended by 36 researchers from the 13 partner institutions, as well as 6 invited scientists from the USA and Japan.  The major achievements so far in the programme include the induction of spawning and the production of large numbers of viable eggs and the successful rearing of even a small number of juveniles using established larval rearing methods.  In more detail, in the three-and-a-half days of presentations (See attached Meeting Schedule), information was presented on the:
1. Spawning induction of captive stocks and the production of large numbers of viable offsprings,
2. Management of eggs and shipment to various larval rearing sites throughout the Mediterranean Sea,
3. Testing of different methods for the rearing of the early life stages,
4. Ontogeny of the digestive system and the organs associated with food capture and processing,
5. Development of broodstock diets based on the body composition of wild fish muscle and gonads,
6. Development of environmentally friendly and efficient commercial feeds,
7. Study of the process of gametogenesis and puberty in captive populations
8. Behaviour of captive broodstocks.

In the fourth day of the meeting, the participants took a tour of the AQUALABS, the facilities of the Institute of Aquaculture, and  Cretaquarium. 
 
The partners of the SELFDOTT consortium include:
1. Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia (Spain) coordinator
2. Hellenic Center for Marine Research (Crete, Greece)
3. Institut Francais d’Exploitation de la Mer (France)
4. Heinrich-Heine University of Dusseldorf (Germany)
5. Tuna Graso, Ricardo Fuentes Group (Spain)
6. Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment, MRAE-Aquaculture (Malta)
7. Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, NCM (Israel)
8. University of Cadiz (Spain)
9. Department of Animal Health and Welfare, the University of Bari (Italy)
10. Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (France)
11. Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (Norway)
12. Universite de Montpellier II (France)
13. Malta Fishfarming (Malta)

For further information please contact:
SELFDOTT coordinator
Dr. Fernando de la Gandara
Email: fernando@mu.ieo.es
Telephone: + 34 968153964
www.selfdott.org

HCMR Scientific Responsible
Dr. Constantinos Mylonas
Email: Mylonas@her.hcmr.gr
Telephone: +30 2810 337878

Please note: This research has been carried out partly with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, specific RTD programme of Framework Programme 7, SELFDOTT.  The Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein, nor does it necessarily reflect its views and in no way anticipates the Commission’s future policy in this area.