ACHIEVING STABILITY IN THE AUSTRALIANTUNA RANCHING INDUSTRY:THE IMPORTANCE OF STATUTORY FISHING RIGHTS (SFRS) AND HARVEST STRATEGIES

摘要

Ranching of southern bluefin tuna (SBT) in Australia started in Port Lincoln in 1991 - and it was a world-first. The technology was then exported to Mexico and the Mediterranean countries - now our biggest competitors in the Japan market and elsewhere.From 1999 to 2008 the industry was very profitable in Australia. Since then prices have fluctuated - but are still "much lower for longer" as they say. In response the industry has cut a lot of excess cost out of the supply chain.The reality is that value-added ranching of tunas is a high risk business. The 5,000 tonnes of bluefin are caught live in the Great Australian Bight (GAB) in December to March - then towed into offshore growout zones around Port Lincoln.