A bluefin tuna. [Photo/Zhangzhou News]

Fujian and MFF, a leading fish farming company in Malta, have agreed to deepen cooperation on bluefin tuna breeding and farming, as the two sides seek to advance the development of a blue economy partnership.

A delegation led by Salvu Ellul, chairman of MFF, and Chen Juheng, chairman of the Chinese Community Association in Malta, visited the Fujian Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries on July 29 to discuss cooperation in the marine and fisheries sectors.

Yan Zhihuang, director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries, briefed the delegation on the latest progress in bluefin tuna artificial breeding. He said that the province hopes to deepen practical cooperation with Malta in breeding and farming technologies to help address technical gaps in China's bluefin tuna development.

Salvu Ellul said that MFF was optimistic about continuing collaboration and hoped both parties would focus on improving hatching efficiency and juvenile fish nutrition management. The goal is to move bluefin tuna production in Fujian from the experimental introduction phase to large-scale local cultivation.

Earlier in July, the first batch of fertilized Atlantic bluefin tuna eggs from Malta cleared quarantine in Zhangzhou, Fujian, and was approved for research use, marking China's first successful overseas introduction of the eggs. Four organizations, including MFF and the Fujian Fisheries Research Institute, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on bluefin tuna development on July 30.