Australian Gov’t: $1m For Year-Round Tuna Marketingff

A $1 million Federal government grant aims to develop a year-long supply of fish for overseas markets.

Australian Minister for Fisheries senator Eric Abetz announced $30 million would be invested in the fishing industry throughout the country, with $1 million put towards projects involving year-round supplies of farmed Australian southern bluefin tuna (SBT).

The project, which is being trialed through a project by Aquafin CRC and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) aims to capture a stronger market price for farm-grown fish.

Tuna Boat Owner’s Association of South Australia president Brian Jeffriess said the $1 million in funding would go towards tuna feed for the trial, maintenance costs, and the risk involved in keeping tuna for a longer period of time.

“Traditionally we catch fish from December to March, and then market it from April to September,” Mr. Jeffriess said.

“But we are trying for 2005/2006 instead of the three to six months harvest, it could be grown over 10 to 15 months.”

“In the long term, it gives you flexibility to grow fish for a longer period of time if the prices are weak.”

Mr. Jeffriess said the trial project involving 20 tons of tuna from local company DI Fishing was proving to be successful so far.

“It’s only a trial, but there’s every reason to believe it could be done on a full commercial basis.”

“We’ve had low mortality rates, the growth of the fish is strong, and the prices received have been good.”