Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit. Review Important Safety Guidelines

Close Alert
  • About Us Who We Are Who We Are

    See it Here, Save it There

  • Leadership Leadership Team Leadership Team

    Board & Corporate Leadership

  • Responsibility Corporate Responsibility Corporate Responsibility

    An Integral & Long-Term Commitment to Conservation.

  • Military
    Notable Recognitions
  • Corporate Partners
  • Careers
  • directions
    Auditions
Our Brands
  • Conservation & Science Conservation & Science Encounter sloths during your adventurous Animal Trek at Discovery Cove.

    Unmatched focus on Conservation and Science

  • Rescue & Rehabilitation Rescue & Rehabilitation SeaWorld Sea Lion Release

    Globally recognized leader in partnership with government and non-profit organizations

  • Animal Care Animal Care Animal Welfare

    Everything we do starts with world-class, professional and loving care

  • FAQ
    Research Partners
  • Education
    Education
Blog
  • Park Media Park Media SeaWorld's Electric Ocean Summer Event

    See the Latest Releases and Media Information for each of our Parks here.

  • Press Releases Press Releases Jack Hanna Weekend at SeaWorld Orlando

    View Our Latest Statements & Releases

  • Recent News Recent News Seven Seas

    What's New at SeaWorld Entertainment? Find Out Here

Investors
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

Buy Tickets

tickets
Back to Blog Home

One Small Fry For Rising Tide, One Giant Leap For Marine Aquaculture

Video Modal Share

Right now there are 100 to 150 juvenile yellow tangs, ranging in age from 70 to 90 days old, happily swimming in their tanks - and the best part? There are more are on the way! 

Why is that a big deal you ask? Let’s take a step back… Where did all of these yellow tang come from? Until recently they would have been collected from the wild, a practice which, if continued, will threaten the delicate balance of our coral reefs. An alternative to wild collection is to captively breed these species. 

Captive breeding has been done successfully for most freshwater fish and many marine corals but the task of breeding marine fish, like the yellow tang, is a bit more challenging. The larvae of this species are microscopic and they eat sub-microscopic copepods and algae. They have a complex lifestyle; thousands of eggs are deposited in the reef and the emerging larvae then drift with currents, eating along the way, for one to three months until they develop a tail and the ability to swim. Fortunately, efforts over the last 20 years have made major changes in the supply of some marine species like clownfish and most recently yellow tang. This breakthrough is thanks to a team of researchers at the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University and was made possible in part through the financial support of Rising Tide Conservation, which is dedicated to making breeding and rearing of marine tropical fish economically viable so that there are alternatives to wild collection.  

“Most people thought it could not be done,” said Dr. Judy St. Leger, Director of Rising Tide Conservation and Vice President for Research and Science for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. “...but Rising Tide Conservation is proud to have supported Dr. Callan and his team at the Oceanic Institute in achieving this milestone.” Chatham Callan, director of the finfish program at the Oceanic Institute (OI) of Hawaii Pacific University, and his team are the first in the world to successfully breed and rear yellow tang, one of the world’s most popular saltwater aquarium fish.

A team of researchers at the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University have become the first in the world to successfully breed and rear yellow tang, one of the world’s most popular saltwater aquarium fish. This breakthrough in marine aquaculture, nearly 15 years in the making, was made possible in part through the financial support of Rising Tide Conservation, an effort to advance technical ability and disseminate information regarding captive breeding of marine fishes. Photo Credit: Aurora Burgess
Photo Credit: Aurora Burgess

“We are excited to finally see the results of more than a decade’s work coming to fruition...We look forward to continuing this important work, aimed now at improving the methods necessary to take this to the next level,” Callan said. This success was an important first step for marine aquaculture but we are far from the end of this journey. Next, Callan and his team will work to turn this into a repeatable process with one goal: the ability to produce these, and other marine ornamental fishes, in aquaculture settings as a sustainable alternative to reef collection.

To learn more about the Oceanic Institute or to support its programs visit OceanicInstitute.org or find them on Facebook. Additional information on Rising Tide Conservation may be found at RisingTideConservation.org.

Conservation
Get Involved
Escape from Extinction Movie Poster

Escape From Extinction Q&A Session with Dr. Chris Dold

October 28, 2020

Dr. Dold, the Chief Zoological Officer at SeaWorld, sat down with us for a Q&A session about the new, eye-opening documentary, Escape From Extinction.

Conservation
Get Involved
Earth Day 2020

10 Ways SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day

April 22, 2020

Today the world is marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but at our SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Parks we strive to celebrate and care for the planet every day.

Conservation
Get Involved
two whales

SeaWorld Parks Celebrates World Whale Day

February 16, 2020

On this World Whale Day, SeaWorld remains committed to the preservation and protection of whale populations

Conservation
Animal care
Partners
  • Home
  • Blog
  • One Small Fry For Rising Tide, One Giant Leap For Marine Aquaculture
SEAS Logo
Our Company
  • Corporate Info
  • Jobs
  • Investor Relations
  • SeaWorld Cares
  • Our Company
Conservation
  • Conservation Fund
  • SeaWorld Cares Blog
  • Animal Welfare
  • Conservation Commitment
  • Conservation
Education & Entertainment
  • Camps
  • Emmy Award DVDs
  • Teacher Resources
  • Sea Rescue
  • Wildlife Docs
  • Education & Entertainment
Theme Parks
  • SeaWorld Orlando
  • SeaWorld San Diego
  • SeaWorld San Antonio
  • Discovery Cove
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg
  • Sesame Place Philadelphia
  • Sesame Place San Diego
  • Theme Parks
Water Parks
  • Aquatica Orlando
  • Aquatica San Diego
  • Aquatica San Antonio
  • Adventure Island
  • Water Country USA
  • Water Parks

© 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Notice of Collection
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Content License
  • Aquatica
  • Discovery Cove Logo
  • SeaWorld Logo
  • Busch Gardens Logo
  • Adventure Island Logo
  • Water Country USA Logo
  • Sesame Place Logo

Video Modal Share

Are you sure you want to delete this item?