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Tuna king is conference keynote speaker
The man responsible for coordinating the world-first spawning of southern bluefin tuna in captivity earlier this year will be the keynote speaker at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s 2009 Research Conference on Monday 9 November.
Describing himself as “just a tuna operator”, Clean Seas Tuna chairman Hagen Stehr AO brought together scientists from across Australia and around the world over the past few years to work on the project near Port Lincoln, South Australia.
This team of scientists included several USC researchers, particularly Professor in Aquaculture Biotechnology Abigail Elizur and Associate Professor in Aquaculture Genetics Wayne Knibb, who played key roles in the spawning breakthrough.
The project was supported by the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre and has opened up huge opportunities commercially, as well as environmentally in preserving wild fish stocks.
Mr Stehr said the success of the project was a shining example of what could be achieved when scientists and industry groups worked together for the same goals.
“I am just a tuna operator who has been able to get a bunch of scientists together and get them all looking in the same direction,” he said. “I’m more than pleased with what we have achieved together.
“Tuna propagation will, in the future, be the only way to have an ecologically-sustainable industry. We are going down the right path, not only for the benefit of Australia, but for the whole world.
“We have lifted the holy grail of tuna propagation and the University of the Sunshine Coast has played a major part in that. The milestones that we achieved with southern bluefin tuna are world firsts and couldn’t have been achieved without the help of USC.”
Mr Stehr said his keynote address at the University’s Research Conference on Monday would focus on the need for closer unions between researchers and industry.
The USC conference also will feature presentations by 24 academics and research students on projects that have the common theme: “Research to benefit society”.
The event from 8am to 5.30pm is open to the public and will promote the quality, impact and benefit of USC research to academic colleagues and to the wider community.
— Terry Walsh