Southern Bluefin tuna harvesting has begun in Port Lincoln with companies adopting different marketing strategies in anticipation of what could be a difficult year ahead. The uncertain global outlook coupled with the fragile Japanese economy and increasing supplies of farmed tuna from around the world means Australian companies have to work harder to secure good prices.
Workers of the tuna company Blaslov have already started harvesting this week with a strategy of getting in early with its fresh, unfrozen tuna. Managing director Justin Nelligan said Blaslov in its five-year history had chosen the more complex and costly strategy of jet-freighting fresh product to Japan, whereas around 80 per cent of Australia's farmed bluefin tuna was typically delivered as frozen product in shipping containers. "This year we've got to get in early with our good fish," Nelligan said.
The fact that there was still frozen product left over in Japan from last year and that there was not yet a price quoted for frozen farmed fish led him to believe it was going to be a difficult year for marketers.
Also down at the marina wharf watching the unloading of Blaslov fish was Japanese tuna grader and buyer Tadashi Sasayama, who after six years of working in Port Lincoln has started his own company called Global Seafoods. "Many buyers know the Baslov brand and we try to keep our customers happy with a consistent product," Sasayama said.
Meanwhile, traditional early bird and one of Australia’s leading tuna companies, MG Kailis is scheduled to start harvesting on Sunday, which actually is some weeks later than normal. Tuna division general manager John Isle said fresh, farmed tuna from around the world was still arriving at the Tokyo fish market, so his company made the call to delay shipments. “It’s going to be a tough year with world production increasing and stabilizing," Isle said. "There are going to be a lot of different strategies."
A third company Sekol is also scheduled to start harvesting tomorrow depending on the situation at the Japanese fish market, while other companies such as Tony's Tuna probably won't harvest until May or June.
Tuna industry spokesman Brian Jeffriess said there were, however, significant reasons to be positive about the upcoming season including the fact that fish appeared to be of very high quality this year. "It's just one of those years with good amount of bait in the Bight leading to more and bigger, healthier fish," Jeffriess said. He also said it was not unusual not to have prices quoted yet, particularly since the much of catch arrived in Port Lincoln later than normal.
He acknowledged that Australia's advantage in the tuna market was declining as more and more farming operations around the world were now supplying increasing tonnages of fish into Japan. Australian tuna in 2001 sold in Japan for $38 a kilogram, which was up from the previous year's price of $34 a kilogram.