The beginning of the tuna season combined with the growing pilchard fleet means many skippers are not looking forward to the hustle and bustle down at the wharf.
The area has become increasingly overcrowded each year as tuna companies vie for space to load tuna feed in the mornings and unload tuna in the afternoons.
Pilchard boats are also jostling for space to unload their night's catch.
The operators of the wharf Flinders Ports says while they are aware of the occasional congestion, the wharf infrastructure is owned by the State Government, who would be responsible for any major upgrades.
Meanwhile, one project that is being touted as a long-term solution, the redevelopment of the BHP wharf, remains a priority for developers.
The pilchard industry is gearing up for an anticipated increase in the quota with pilchard industry spokesman Norm Craig saying he estimated there were now between 10 and 12 pilchard vessels at the wharf at any given time.
"The crowding is a big concern for us," Craig said.
"Pilchards are by their very nature a very fragile product and skippers liked to offload the fish as soon as possible to ensure the best quality."
Tuna industry spokesman Brian Jeffriess also said crowding at the main wharf was a concern given that most companies used the facility for their daily operation during the season.
"The wharf is the preferred location," he said.
With about four vessels for each company, the total tuna fleet probably consisted of around 50 vessels of various sizes, he said.
Coordination between companies and skippers meant any conflicts were kept to a minimum and while there was not a set roster in place the vessels always seemed to work out the best time to dock, he said.
Flinders Ports human resources and projects general manager Peter Cheers said his company was aware that the wharf was extremely busy at times and important issues such as safety were regularly reviewed.
But the State Government owned the wharf infrastructure and any major project such as the pilchard fishers' suggestion to redevelop the Troubridge wharf would have come from the Government.
Bulk shipping remained the main function for the wharf with the commercial fleet a secondary but important component with the berthing fees being quite reasonable, he said.
It costs $301 to berth an average vessel between 100 and 200 tons for three months at any Flinders Ports managed facility.
Speaking on behalf of the BHP wharf owner Dean Lukin, development consultant Geof Bone said feasibility studies for the redevelopment were being refined with the goal of submitting a "major projects development application" to the State Government by the end of the month.
"Dean is still pursuing it actively and remains strongly committed to the project," Bone said.