Surrogate sushi: Japan biotech for bluefin tuna

[Judi Lynn]

Surrogate sushi: Japan biotech for bluefin tuna
By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer | November 20, 2014 | Updated: November 20, 2014 3:01am

TATEYAMA, Japan (AP) — Of all the overfished fish in the seas, luscious, fatty bluefin tuna are among the most threatened. Marine scientist Goro Yamazaki, who is known in this seaside community as "Young Mr. Fish," is working to ensure the species survives.

Yamazaki is fine-tuning a technology to use mackerel surrogates to spawn the bluefin, a process he hopes will enable fisheries to raise the huge, torpedo-shaped fish more quickly and at lower cost than conventional aquaculture. The aim: to relieve pressure on wild fish stocks while preserving vital genetic diversity.

Yamazaki, 48, grew up south of Tokyo in the ancient Buddhist capital of Kamakura, fishing and swimming at nearby beaches. His inspiration hit 15 years ago while he was out at sea during graduate studies at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and a school of bluefin tuna streaked by.

"They swam just under the boat, and they were shining metallic blue. A beautiful animal," Yamazaki said. "Before that, tuna was just an ingredient in sushi or sashimi, but that experience changed bluefin tuna into a wild animal to me."

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/Surrogate-sushi-Japan-biotech-for-bluefin-tuna-5905529.php

[DetlefK]

1. Genetically manipulating a sterile mackerel-species so they will have tuna-babies.

Sounds like an idea of Professor Farnsworth.

[Nihil]

2. Better idea: Don't waste the time & money on genetically engineering a different fish ...

... in order to "save" tuna, just stop killing the *real* ones (along with whales, dolphins, reef fish, ...)!