Science Centres: Fisheries

Harvesting Mycale hentscheli sponges from mussel lines.

NIWA, together with Victoria University and the Marlborough Mussel Company (MMC), are developing ways of growing sponges containing high concentrations of the anti-tumour compound Peloruside A.

NIWA’s aquaculture expertise has been brought in to find ways of producing more Peloruside A from the native sponge Mycale hentscheli, as the compound is currently too expensive to synthesise.

NIWA has now successfully transferred pieces of cultured sponge to mussel lines on MMC sites in Pelorus Sound. The sponges are growing well, and techniques are being developed to manage stocks and improve survival rates.

This research is funded through a Victoria University Foundation for Research, Science & Technology grant.