At a crucial meeting on the future of southern bluefin tuna have made it clear that Australian authority will leave no stone unturn to save bluefin tuna from 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.
As per the statement by the Australian Government 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.
It is informed that 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.
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.
