Tuna Research Activities at the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Achotines Laboratory

Achotines Laboratory, owned and operated by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), is the only research facility in the world with captive broodstock tuna that have been spawning on a near daily basis for over a decade. Yellowfin tuna eggs, larvae and juveniles resulting from those spawns are used for a variety of studies including investigations of the effects of various environmental and biological factors on growth and survival. 

 The IATTC has entered into a number of research agreements with other institutions and organizations around the world to maximize tuna- and billfish-related investigations and utilization of the facilities at the Achotines Laboratory.  Current research partners include the Panamanian Government Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panama, Hubbs Sea World Research Institute of San Diego, California, Texas A&M University, Kinki University of Japan and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.  There are also multi-disciplinary projects being carried out at Achotines Laboratory that are funded by the Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP), the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Panamanian Government organization Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación.

 A review of present joint research projects will be presented as will preliminary results from some of these activities.