Israel Invests $6.5 Million in Bluefin Tuna Domestication Project

Israel is investing approximately 24 million shekels (about $6.5 million) in a national project to domesticate bluefin tuna in Eilat. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to establish a commercial tuna farming industry within a decade, starting with the construction of four breeding tanks and a system for producing fingerlings.

The project's primary goal is to overcome the main obstacle in commercial tuna farming: a consistent supply of high-quality fingerlings. Currently, global tuna farming relies heavily on catching and raising fish from the wild. The Eilat facility is expected to house breeding tuna populations within two years, with research focusing on controlled reproduction and improving fingerling survival rates.

Within five years, the ministry anticipates significant progress in research and development, moving towards commercial production. A decade from now, the initiative could form the basis of a knowledge-intensive Israeli industry supplying fingerlings to local farms and international markets. Officials compare the fingerlings to seeds and seedlings in agriculture, crucial for the entire cultivation chain.

The choice of bluefin tuna is strategic due to its high economic value and rapid growth rate. While sea bream typically reaches half a kilogram in 18 months, tuna under suitable conditions can reach five kilograms within a year. This rapid growth, the ministry believes, will enhance the profitability of Israeli fish farms and their competitiveness.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, stated that increasing local seafood protein production is vital for Israel's food security. He highlighted the tuna's high protein content as a clear justification for the research and future commercial investment.