CARMELO AGIUS, the wellknown industry consultant based at the University of Malta, introduced the topic of tuna farming with a description of operations in the Mediterranean.

An estimated 60% of the total allowable catch of the Eastern Atlantic bluefin stock is now purse seined and transferred to holding cages for conditioning, prior to controlled harvesting and transfer at sea to Japanese vessels.

Prof Agius estimated that in 2005 some 18,800 tonnes of Atlantic bluefin tuna were sold from offshore cages in the Mediterranean.