Further research will be done before the Federal Government decides how to deal with allegations that Japanese fishermen are poaching tuna in Australian waters.
A report about over-fishing was looked at by the International Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna in Canberra last week.
Federal Fisheries Minister Senator Eric Abetz says any action has been postponed until after the next commission meeting in October.
He says it is too early to draw conclusions about what the findings could mean for Australia’s tuna quotas.
“Migratory stocks are always hard to police and southern bluefin tuna is ... not different in that regard,†he said.
“There are difficulties [that] have been exposed I believe, but the extent of those difficulties remains to be seen and my view is that we ought to let the science do its work.â€
He says more scientific research is needed.
“They are of the view that if there is significant overcatch then it would be appropriate to reconsider the amount that is allowed of quotas per country,†he said. “But at this stage it’s premature to make those sort of comments - hypothetical – it’s good for discussion but at the end of the day let's wait and see.â€