Good tuna catch in this season keep Nelson commercial fishers afloat when the fuel cost rising, quotas decreasing and the rate of dollar continue to torpedo the industry’s economic viability. It is informed that albacore tuna is a migratory species that is traditionally caught along the west coast of New Zealand from January to the end of April.
Never before the fishing boast from Nelson got such an exceptional catch but this season the number of tuna catch has gone so high that it lured most of the inshore fleet to the fishery. Doug Loder, president of the Federation of Commercial Fishermen, told that 70 to 80 percent of the fleet is there at the moment which means about 25 to 30 boats. He added that the big catches were just one reason for the fishery’s popularity. He explained that albacore remained a non-quota species which allowed commercial fishers to take an unlimited catch and cash in on the bumper season.
He stressed not to bring fishery into the quota management system. For most of the fishermen there is an opportunity in lean time to enjoy the benefits of a migratory stock like this, says Loder.
Nelson fisherman Wayne Robertson said the big catch of tuna this season giving the Nelson fleet a nice little boost. Another Nelson skipper, Geoff Thompson, informed that they had been returning with full loads after each three to seven-day trip.
