At a glance

The Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (WTBF) extends westward from Cape York Peninsula (142°30’E) off Queensland around the west coast of Western Australia and from there extends eastward across the Great Australian Bight to 141°E at the South Australian/Victorian border.

The WTBF also includes Australian waters outside of 12 nm off Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands. The WTBF Management Plan also applies to Australian vessels fishing on the high seas within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) Area of Competence.

At a glance
Principal Species Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) bigeye tuna (T. obesus) and albacore tuna (T. alalunga). Note: Targeted purse seine fishing for Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) is not permitted under the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan and is managed separately.
No. of Fishing Permits (October 2009)
  • 95 Boat Statutory Fishing Rights (SFRs);
  • 989,056 Bigeye Tuna quota SFRs;
  • 989,073 Broadbill Swordfish quota SFRs;
  • 84,437 Striped Marlin quota SFRs; and
  • 988,955 Yellowfin Tuna quota SFRs
Main Markets Domestic, Japan and United States
Fishing Techniques Pelagic longline, minor line (hand line, rod and reel, troll and poling) and purse seine
Stock Status: As assessed in Fishery Status Reports by the Bureau of Rural Sciences 2008 The four target species* in the WTBF are highly migratory and internationally managed by IOTC, therefore it is important to note that any assessment of resources is based on the IOTC assessment.

  • Broadbill swordfish* – Overfishing occurring / stock overfished – uncertain
  • Bigeye tuna* – Overfishing uncertain / stock not overfished
  • Yellowfin tuna* – Overfishing occurring / stock not overfished
  • Albacore tuna – Overfishing not occurring / stock not overfished
  • Striped marlin* – Overfishing and overfished uncertain
Management Plan The Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation accepted the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan in October 2005 and corresponding amendments, in November 2006. Following a series of legal appeals the Plan came into operation on 1 July 2010.
Strategic Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act The Strategic Assessment Report for the WTBF has been considered by DEWHA and has been granted continued export approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for a further five year period expiring on 1 December 2014. The fishery has been formally accredited following a reassessment in relation to the protected species provisions of Part 13 and the wildlife trade provisions of Part 13A under the EPBC Act.
Management Method An input control management regime, based on limited entry – Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) for key species was implemented under the management plan and the fishery is being managed under quota.
Consultative Mechanism The Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee (Tropical Tuna MAC) is the principal forum in which issues relating to the management of the WTBF are discussed. The Tropical Tuna MAC has several sub-committees including a Resource Assessment Group and a Research, Review and Recommendations Committee.
International Management Australia is a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) which is responsible for the management of tuna and billfish stocks in the Indian Ocean, as well as the impacts of fishing on the wider ecosystem.

Australia pursues the implementation of management measures through the negotiation process that protect the long-term sustainability of the tuna and billfish stocks and the wider marine ecosystem in the Indian Ocean. Australia is also required to implement management measures agreed at the IOTC.
Bycatch and discarding AFMA has developed Bycatch Action Plans (BAPs) in the form of succinct work plans for fisheries, including the ETBF and WTBF. It sets out management responses to high ecological risks, including impacts on Threatened, Endangered and Protected (TEP) species, and discarding of target species over the period 2008-2010.
Major Issues for Next 12 Months There are no major issues within the fishery due to the low levels of fishing effort.
Longer Term Strategic Management Issues Managing the fishery in the current economic climate, including providing scope for new fishing opportunities.