| At a glance |
| Principal Species |
Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) |
| No of Statutory Fishing Right (SFR) owners as at 18 March 2009 |
118 |
| Estimated catch and value for 2007-2008 |
AUD$44.5 million and 5239 tonne |
| Fishing Seasons |
The SBT fishing year runs from 1 December to 30 November each year. For the purse seine fishery, fishing for grow out farms occurs from January – March. Longlining for SBT occurs primarily in winter months off Southern NSW. |
| Main Markets |
Japan. Small but growing markets in Indonesia, UK and USA. |
| Fishing Techniques |
Around 98% of Australia’s SBT quota is taken by 5-8 purse seine vessels fishing in the Great Australian Bight for 15-25 kg SBT. These are towed alive back to static grow out cages off Port Lincoln and fattened for up to 6 months before harvest and export to Japan. SBT is also a valuable and largely incidental catch for longline vessels operating in southern Australian waters. They are also taken in small amounts by pole and line, and trolling. |
| Stock Status |
Overfished globally. For several years the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) has been working on a management strategy to guide the setting of global quotas and to pursue stock rebuilding. Implementation of the management procedures has been delayed due to the discovery of over-catches. The CCSBT Scientific Committee meetings consider how to best progress the management procedures. |
| Management Plan |
The SBT Fishery is managed under provisions of the SBT Management Plan 1995. |
| Management Method |
Output controls comprising Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs). National catch allocations for member countries are determined and set by the CCSBT. Australia received a national allocation of 5,265 tonnes and AFMA subsequently set the Australian Total Allowable Catch (TAC) at this level for the 2008-2009 season. |
| International Management |
Australia continues to actively participate in the CCSBT, the regional body responsible for determining national catch allocations and resolutions for the management of the global SBT Fishery. Measures adopted by this body are instituted in the domestic fishery through the SBT Management Plan 1995. |
| Bycatch Action Plan |
An SBT Fishery Bycatch Action Plan (BAP) was initially developed as part of a broader BAP for the Australian Tuna Fisheries. AFMA is currently developing a Bycatch and Discard work plan for the fishery based upon the results of the Ecological Risk Assessment process.. |
| Major Management Issues over the next 12 months |
- The refinement of data collection and validation processes for the fishery, in particular the observer program for the purse seine sector.
- Continuing to improve the international management framework (through CCSBT) of the global SBT Fishery.
- Attempting to reduce uncertainty in the SBT stock assessment in light of possible further declines in recruitment and spawning biomass.
- Implementing the CCSBT Catch Documentation Scheme.
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