Australian officials at a crucial meeting on the future of southern bluefin tuna have made it clear to their counterparts they think the species is in crisis.
The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna is currently meeting on Jeju Island, South Korea.
Last week the ABC revealed that a confidential scientific report to be presented to the commission would show the stock was heading towards a total collapse.
The Australian Government's opening statement to the commission said: "This is an unacceptable situation for any fishery from a biological and economic perspective."
The commission is made of several countries, including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia. It must decide the total allowable catch (TAC) and what each country can take from the ocean.
Australia has the largest quota and can take 5,265 tons per year. Japan has the second largest quota at 3,000 tons per year.
The meeting is closed until a decision on the total allowable catch is hammered out between the countries.
However, it is understood the Federal Government has made it clear that it believes the stock is in crisis, and the current level of spawning stock is at internationally recognised warning levels; that is if nothing is done the stock may not recover.
The scientific report that has been presented to the meeting contains research from the world's best fisheries scientists. It includes Campbell Davies from the CSIRO in Hobart.
The decisions of the meeting and the report are expected to be made public Friday.
Conservation groups will be eagerly awaiting Friday's decision to see whether the member countries on the commission have tried to "soften the blow" to tuna fisherman.
Southern bluefin tuna is Australia's largest fishing industry.
The industry has already invested millions of dollars in the upcoming fishing season, which starts on December 1.
It has spent millions on a new marketing campaign to Japan to increase the purchase of southern bluefin tuna.
Conservationists will be scrutinising the decision to see whether the commission has agreed to cut the quota and whether it moves to delay the implementation of the cut, ameliorating the economic consequences for tuna fishermen.
The meeting coincides with moves in Europe to ban the fishing and export of the prized northern bluefin tuna. A submission has been made to list the fish as critically endangered.
