13 January 2010
Australia Source: Port Lincoln Times
Last week the large majority of Port Lincoln tuna boats set out on another trip to the Great Australian Bight.
Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Association chief executive Brian Jeffriess said so far this season the catches and sightings had been exceptionally good.
“This is consistent with catch rates by New Zealand and Japan, which have been the highest for 25 years,†he said.
There was talk around town of Greenpeace boats going into the Bight this year to observe tuna boats, but Mr. Jeffriess said he had no knowledge of this.
The tuna season began on December 1 and despite recent setbacks and job losses, local tuna farmers remained optimistic about the two seasons ahead.
The industry suffered a blow in October when the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna cut Australia’s catch quota from 5265 tons to 4015 tons in an effort to rebuild stock.
All tuna fishing countries had their quota slashed to some degree as the global total allowable catch was reduced by 2361 tons in total.
The Australian government then announced a single total allowable catch of 8030 tons for two years, thus allowing Port Lincoln tuna farmers to spread their cut over the two seasons ahead.
