Fisheries management

The Skipjack Tuna Fisheries are comprised of the Eastern Skipjack Tuna Fishery (ESTF) and the Western Skipjack Tuna Fishery (WSTF).

The ESTF generally covers waters east of 141°E and the WSTF waters west of 141°E. The area encompassed incorporates nearly the entire Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ); including waters around Norfolk Island, Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but excluding Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Macquarie Island; together with high seas in the areas of competence of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

Skipjack tuna is the only target species in the fishery.

The Australian and state/territory governments have negotiated Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) arrangements, which rationalise management, generally on a species basis. Under the terms of these arrangements, the states and Northern Territory generally manage coastal and slow moving species in the inshore areas of the AFZ while the Australian Government manages deepwater and migratory species. The Australian Government has reached agreement under OCS on jurisdiction over commercial tuna fisheries with the states and Northern Territory (except NSW).