The boat began its first trip on Wednesday, a crucial step in what has been a four-year planning process to expand operations for the mother-company Talley’s Group Limited.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has granted licenses to the company Logan Farms for use on the vessel.
The vessel has a 1000 ton capacity and will fish in commonwealth waters with an east and west skipjack tuna license, which has been teamed with a leased quota for commercial and non-commercial by catch, including yellowfin tuna.
AFMA spokesperson Nigel Catchlove said there will be “additional observer coverage†on board the Capt. M.J.Souza during the trial.
â€From a legal perspective the boat has been declared an Australian fishing vessel and as such will be treated as one,†said Mr. Catchlove.
While fishing, two fish spotting crews will be in the air.
A fixed wing plane has been chartered from Merimbula Air Services along with an experienced spotter and the boat’s own helicopter will be in use.
The crew is international, including members from
The skipper, Mike Castaneda, is
Mr. Castenada was a master by the age of 22 and has been fishing for 30 years, the last six have been aboard the Capt. M.J.Souza.
In the last 12 months the purse seiner has fished in
Catch is unloaded either directly to the canneries or transshipped to carrier vessels, who then freight to the canneries, allowing the boat to stay close to the fishing grounds to continue fishing.
A fishing trip generally lasts a few weeks to two months and turnaround time can be up to a week.
Talley’s deep-sea fleet also includes four freezer trawlers, two joint venture longline factory vessels (which have full Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries packhouse licenses), one joint venture factory vessel fishing in