A project by a Flinders University PhD student Sita Balshaw has demonstrated that levels of mercury in southern bluefin tuna (SBT) are lower in farmed tuna than in their wild counterparts.

The project investigated mercury accumulation in tuna to assess the safety of tuna farming practices.

Tuna farming involves the transfer of wild fish into sea pontoons where they are intensively fattened over several months.

With a steady diet of bait-fish, farmed tuna tend to bulk up quickly and Ms Balshaw said accumulation of very low levels of mercury is more than offset by their rapid growth rate.

Australian SBT Association research manager in Port Lincoln David Ellis said this was another good example of good research, which delivered tangible outcomes for the industry.

"This demonstrates our product is very healthy and further emphasises the marketability of our product in overseas markets."

The study was run in conjunction with the Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre and Port Lincoln industry partners.