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news C and E, and cod liver oil. After five months of daily feeding with reformulated feeds, the pompano showed characteristics of matured broodstocks and the pompano started spawning naturally on May 23. It was the first ever recorded natural spawning of pompano at least among the BFAR regional offices. The total weight of eggs in the first spawning was 200g but only 50g were fertilized. The eggs hatched after 24 hours. A total of three spawning was recorded for the month of May 2013. Dr Chavez has concluded that pompano can be bred all year round as long as required nutrients are supplied. Silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii, is still relatively recent to the aquaculture sector but is a high-value marine finfish that has been in the market as wild caught fish used as first class fillet in high-end restaurants. Fast growing and easily cultured, silver pompano can be weaned to commercial feeds without difficulty and can adapt to the culture environment. ANNUAL AQUACULTURE AWARDS At the Marine Farming Association's annual Aquaculture Awards at the end of July a number of industry people were recognized for their hard work. The Outstanding Marine Farmer award was given to Kris Solly, Arista-Cat Mussels, for major contributions towards public awareness and growth of marine farming in Golden and Tasman Bays. The MFA Merit Award was presented to Mark Gillard of New Zealand King Salmon, for making a significant and beneficial difference to the marine farming industry over a sustained period of time. Darren Clarke received the Environmental Award for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the environment through advocacy, leadership and best practice. The Research and Development Award went to Marine and General, for inventing, designing, perfecting and manufacturing much of the industry's on-water machinery. Zane Charman was presented with the Recent Entrant award and while he honoured to receive the award, he commented that he didn't see the award as being solely for himself. "I've had a lot of support from a myriad of different people within the industry – especially Ted Cully, Dave Herbert, Phil Hawke Dean Condon, James Higgins and Jason McKay, who've shown me the ropes and shared their knowledge and never wavered in their support." launched Responsible Feed project was made by Aquaculture Stewardship Council standards co-ordinator, Michiel Fransen. "The ASC Feed Standard will set out requirements for the aquaculture feed industry to operate on a more environmentally sound and socially responsible basis. For example, by tracing key ingredients used in fish feed and placing demands on raw material manufacturers to demonstrate that their products are produced responsibly," Fransen said. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and SFP launched the Southeast Asia Fisheries Improvement Project at the meeting, a programme that looks at improving fisheries that produce fishmeal for the Asian fish feed industry. Major overseas supply chain businesses are actively supporting the project including Aldi, Asda Walmart, Coop, Lyons, Marks & Spencers, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Seachill Icelandic and Thai Union. The South East Asian fish feed industry is a big producer of feed for farmed fish globally. The ASC Feed Standard is expected to be ready towards the end of 2015. In June last year, the ASC took over the global salmon standard for responsible farming; New Zealand was among those countries that expressed interest in the new certification. been sitting in the marina for some time. With the results of the survey in, biosecurity co-ordinator Jono Underwood said that the bad news was that more than 100 sea squirt were found in Picton's inner harbour. However, sea squirts were present in only small areas of the marina. The dive team discovered 100 individual sea squirts within the inner Picton marina basin and one immature individual outside the "coat hanger", while still in the confines of the marina. The clubbed tunicate has known populations in the Hauraki Gulf, Lyttelton, Nelson and Porirua Harbour, and has already caused problems for mussel farmers in the Hauraki Gulf. "It represents one of the more serious threats to date to the mussel industry in the top of the south. Equally, it could become widespread and possibly abundant in many of the natural habitats throughout the region." Underwood said. This is the second time Styela clava has been found in Picton but this was a more serious infestation. Scientists at Niwa and the Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership are analysing the results of the survey and will recommend next steps for the response. Sea squirt sneaks back in TUNA FARMING RESEARCH TO BOOST US AQUACULTURE? In June the Marlborough District Council reported that the marine pest sea squirt had been discovered in Picton Harbour. The survey of Picton's inner harbour for the invasive marine pest sea squirt Styela clava has now been completed and the results are being analysed. Also known as the clubbed tunicate, sea squirt has threatened mussel farms, competed with native and marine species and fouled boats, fishing equipment and other structures. Biosecurity staff asked people not to move boats or equipment from Picton marina, but the restriction related mainly to boats that had FISHMEAL STANDARDS IN ASIA On July 18 leaders in the Asian aquaculture fish feed industry met to discuss responsible fishmeal production at the 4th Asian Fish Feed Roundtable in Bangkok, hosted by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. A presentation revealing the recently 6 n NZ AQUACULTURE n SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 The University of Rhode Island in the United States has begun a research project into farming yellowfin tuna. The university hopes to develop the technology needed to grow the tuna with the aim of taking pressure of wild stocks – and developing the local aquaculture industry. "Worldwide demand for tuna increases yearly, even as tuna stocks are dwindling precipitously," said Terry Bradley, a URI professor of fisheries and aquaculture. Bradley says Australia, Mexico and several Mediterranean countries are doing what he calls "tuna ranching" by capturing wild tuna, putting them in pens and raising them to harvest size. "All they're doing is taking wild fish and fattening them up," he said. "It's still depleting the wild population and has had a long-term impact on tuna stocks." Bradley and director of Rhode Islandbased Greenfins Peter Mottur, believe that construction of a larger tank which will be built at the URI Bay Campus later this year will markedly increase the project's likelihood of success. It's the ideal time for a tuna aquaculture venture, according to Bradley and Mottur. "Japan can't produce all the tuna it needs for the country's own purposes, and the United States is a net importer of fish, including tuna," Bradley said. The Australian company Clean Seas is currently the only company in the world to farm tuna commercially from egg to harvest size.