Pacific bonito first spawning confirmed

Tarapaca University

Pacific bonito first spawning confirmed

CHILE
Monday, January 14, 2013, 23:20 (GMT + 9)

Researchers at the University of Tarapaca (UTA) achieved the first spawning of bonito (Sarda chiliensis) in the units of La Capilla sector, after 14 months in captivity.

This initiative was developed under the FIC P80 project, funded by the regional government of Arica and Parinacota.

The first spawning of the species in the country took place in the UTA facility located 10 kilometres south of the city of Arica.

At the beginning of the bonito farming in Chile, the project manager, Renzo Pepe Victoriano said early last year that "the experience of the first campaigns in 2009 north of the city of Iquique (Tarapaca Region) allowed further improvement of the techniques for its capture in 2011, and in those months, the capture of live specimens in captivity could be achieved. "

The adaptation "was very satisfactory, since in less than two months of being in the pond the bonito fish were feeding with dry pellet," the scientist told Aqua portal.

After confirming the first spawning, Pepe Victoriano said "This event is the culmination of a successful work, where all the collected information, management techniques and breeding specimen conditioning in a Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) allowed us to corroborate which is the optimal environment for the development of a marine fish broodstock ".

"Our team could successfully fulfil and materialize the objectives of the project set at the start and conclude that the proposed RAS is technically efficient," he concluded.

The study of farming and reproduction of bonito and yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) in Arica and Parinacota began in late December 2008, with the participation of UTA researchers from the Catholic University of the North.

At that time, Pepe Victoriano said "with a duration of 42 months (2008-2012), the first phase of the program includes the installation of broodstock conditioning ponds in ‘La Capilla’ area, 10 kilometres from Arica, and the subsequent capture of 120 specimens of each species.”

He explained that the overall goal was to develop and implement technologies for conditioning, captive breeding and larval rearing of both resources.

Among the specific goals, he mentioned:

• Obtaining bonito and yellowtail kingfish wild broodstock for captive management;
• Establishment and implementation of technical and biological bases for correct operation and reproductive conditioning for the breeding stock of both species;
• Determination of the most efficient techniques for the reproduction of viable eggs obtained from both species;
• Generation and transfer of technology package to potential consumers.