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Japan Cooks Up New Technique to Save Bluefin

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2009 7:15 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Japanese scientists are racing to keep bluefin tuna from dying out by inducing another fish to give birth to them, GlobalPost reports. Overfishing has already decimated bluefin and convinced many diners, supermarket and sushi chains to avoid the fish. Now Japan is paying a Tokyo University team to replenish bluefin stock by stuffing the tuna's sperm and ovary stem cells into mackerel.

In theory, the mackarel could produce enough bluefin to multiply in the open sea and help keep the species alive. Experiments so far have been hampered by a lack of stem cells in bluefin testes, but team leader Goro Yoshizaki is optimistic. He hopes to mass produce "tuna through surrogate mackerel in less than 10 years." Only problem: His $3 million government grant runs out in 2012.

A Japanese bluefin tuna that fetched nearly 10 million yen at the year-opening auction is shown at Tokyo's Tsukiji market Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.
A Japanese bluefin tuna that fetched nearly 10 million yen at the year-opening auction is shown at Tokyo's Tsukiji market Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Fishermen unload a bluefin tuna in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007.
Fishermen unload a bluefin tuna in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007.   (AP Photo/Andrew Vaughan, The Canadian Press)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Michael_CT
Apr 28, 2009 12:07 PM CDT
playing with nature... this can't be a good idea. we gotta look a the problem (eating too much), not 'fix' it.
riffran
Apr 28, 2009 8:40 AM CDT
maybe the price of toro will go down
kokuaguy
Apr 28, 2009 6:53 AM CDT
Mahalo, Newser, for a story that can't help but raise environmental consciousness without being preachy. We all love the "fishies." I can never forget Charley the Tuna, though I rarely eat tuna now except on special occasions (at my favorite sushi bar.)

Tuna baron breeds bluefin in tanks
The Australian

As fishing season opens, bluefin dying out
Times (UK)

EU restricts bluefin fishers
AFP

Green • World

 
endangered species • Japan • sushi • bluefin tuna

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