Red tuna is one of the most emblematic species and risk of our marine ecosystem. Yet despite international efforts to protect it, now he will have to face a new threat: intensive breeding. The Ministry of Agriculture and Spanish fishing has in fact recently authorized the birth of First plant for the intensive breeding of the Atlantic red tuna in Europe.
It will be built in Castellón de la Plana, Spain, and will be the first in the world with a system that aims to close the entire life cycle of the species in captivity.
The project, of the German company Next Tunaprovides for the construction of a pilot system which, with an initial investment of around 7 million euros, will use a floating tank with RAS technology (water recirculation system) and a maximum expected production of 60 tons of red tuna per year. But this is only the beginning. If the test goes “well”, a second project of 70 million euros with 18 tanks and a large -scale production is already ready.
The excuse? Promote the research and development of marine aquaculture. In reality, as can be easily imagined, it is a highly unsustainable model that completely ignores the biology and well -being of these animals. Red tuna is a migratory predator which runs thousands of kilometers in the open sea. Changing it in tanks is a condemnation of a life of stress, suffering and deprivation.
And it’s not just about this. Red tuna breeding requires huge quantities of wild fish as feed: to “produce” a single tuna, up to 20 kilos of fish caught are sacrificed. In practice, precious resources are subtracted from the oceans to fatten few individuals intended for the luxury market. In addition, although RAS technology is promoted as “clean”, the environmental implications remain serious: use of energy, drugs, pollution and waste of resources.
Environmental associations and animal welfare have long since expressed heavy concerns about this type of breeding and the approval of the project now marks a very serious precedent. Not only does it legitimize the intensive breeding of an already threatened species, but opens the way to the normalization of unacceptable practices in the name of profit. And while governments and companies promote these projects as solutions to the above, in reality they are only perpetuating the same system that led the oceans to collapse.
As he points out Be animals, It is particularly worrying that the project has received financial support through EU public funding programs aimed at promoting sustainable development. Instead, the need is evident that the EU rejecting this type of farms. For this purpose, a petition was born that you can sign here.
View this post on Instagram
And let’s not forget the octopus
In the meantime, the intensive breeding of octopus, intelligent and solitary creatures that in nature never live in a group is also planned in Spain. The project, promoted by the multinational Nueva Pescanova in Gran Canaria, has already raised a wave of international indignation. Still, it seems that the fishing industry is willing to sacrifice any species in order to make cash.
Fortunately, he seems to be suspended. Nothing is known about his destiny and we sincerely hope we never have to talk about it again.
