SAN DIEGO, August 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- Important Step Achieved in
Closing the Life Cycle of Bluefin Tuna Farming in a Commercially
Viable Way
- Substantial Enhancement of
Umami's Sustainable Tuna Farming Model
Umami Sustainable Seafood Inc. (OTCBB:UMAM) ("Umami" or "the
Company"), a holding company of fish farming operations supplying
sashimi-grade Northern Bluefin Tuna to the global market, has
obtained DNA evidence confirming natural spawning of Bluefin Tuna
at its Kali Tuna facility in Croatia.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110803/472203-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110803/472203-b )
Larvae hatched from eggs, collected from Kali Tuna's holding
pens on July 19-21 were analyzed by
Genomics Laboratory Macrogen Inc. They were confirmed to be Bluefin
Tuna. Further tests conducted on the larvae's mitochondrial
DNA determined that they matched their gene base, establishing that
natural spawning activity had taken place within Kali's brood stock
holding pens. This is the third consecutive year that natural
spawning activities have taken place in Umami's Croatian commercial
tuna farming facility, Kali Tuna.
Eggs were collected from one of several brood stock cages
containing eighty-four mature five-year-old fish. The fish were not
treated with hormones but, over the years, have been closely
managed by Kali's scientists. This is the largest documented
spawning in Kali Tuna's cages to date. The eggs were placed into an
incubator and hatched. The larvae are being used for further
research and development.
Kali Tuna has made a significant investment growing over 1,000
young tuna into mature brood stock at its aqua farms in both
Mexico and Croatia to help replenish the Bluefin tuna
population. This is likely the world's largest brood stock holding,
with the goal being to release hundreds of millions of
fertilized eggs and fry back into the wild every year.
This spawning event is a major step forward for the Company's
hatchery project. Having a reliable and predictable supply of eggs
is essential to the success of the Company's propagation programs.
Earlier this year, Kali Tuna started work on building the
world's first mobile tuna hatchery, one that will incorporate the
latest equipment and technologies while being cost effective.
Oli Valur Steindorsson, Umami's Chairman and CEO said, "This
event marks a major milestone in our company's ultimate goal of
building a commercially viable closed life cycle Bluefin Tuna
farming operation. For three consecutive years at our
Croatian facility, we have spawned Bluefin tuna in captivity in a
natural way. Although we still have a lot of work left to do
in achieving our ultimate goal of developing economically viable
processes of raising fish from the fry, these results prove that
our experience, and our understanding of the species, is paying
off. I am now more confident than ever that we will be able to
dramatically increase the world's access to this highly valued food
source, without any degradation in quality, while, at the same
time, decreasing the pressure on the world's wild populations."
About Umami Sustainable Seafood
Inc.
The Company owns and operates Kali Tuna, which is an established
Croatian based aquaculture operation raising Northern Bluefin Tuna
in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea and, since November 30, 2010, Baja Aqua Farms, which is an
established Mexico based
aquaculture operation raising Northern Bluefin Tuna in the Pacific.
The Company intends to become the leader in aquaculture for
northern Bluefin tuna by acquisition and internal growth. The goal
of the Company is the sustainable management of resources and
economically sound practices, seeking opportunities resulting from
market consolidation and scientific progress in the industry.
The Company also intends to continue its research into closed
cycle farming technology for Bluefin tuna, which has produced
encouraging results.
For more information, please visit
http://www.umamiseafood.com.
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and forward-looking
statements, as that term is defined in Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this
press release, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking
statements and can include, without limitation, statements based on
current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties
and which are not guarantees of future performance of the Company.
There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially
from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including
(i) adverse market conditions; (ii) any adverse occurrence with
respect to the farmed seafood industry generally or the businesses
of Kali Tuna and Baja
specifically; and (iii) changes in the regulatory environment.
Actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written
and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and
opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly
qualified in their entirety by this notice. Although the Company
believes that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions
contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no
assurance those beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will
prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the
information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk
factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
on October 22, 2010, and other
reports filed or to be filed from time-to-time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
