According to the Rudd government it is good to slash Australia’s lucrative southern bluefin tuna catch, despite criticism from the fishing industry. The industry said that it unfairly penalises local efforts to boost fish stocks while letting Japanese overfishing off the hook.
It is told that the decision by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna has cut Australia’s catch by 25 percent over the next two years. It is true that Australia’s cut was part of a global reduction in the catch of 20 percent, amid fears stocks could collapse.
Fisheries Minister Tony Burke yesterday said the slashed quota was necessary to boost stocks in the long term. He admit that it was a tough decision which recognised that further international action was needed if we were to have a chance of saving this important fishery from collapse.
Port Lincoln Mayor Peter Davis yesterday said the quota cut was a harsh blow to an already battling industry. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi yesterday accused Science Minister Kim Carr of abandoning the tuna industry and threatening jobs.
