SBT Are Often Confused With Other Tuna Species

Southern Bluefin Tuna has often been controversial, because:

  1. It is very often confused with Atlantic Bluefin, a completely different species. It is Atlantic Bluefin which was the subject of the film “End of the Line”, and which was nominated for CITES listing in 2010. In contrast, Southern Bluefin Tuna has never been nominated for CITES, and was not mentioned in thSouthern Blufin Tunae “End of the Line.”
  2. Southern Bluefin Tuna is an international fishery which is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of SBT CCSBT). The main CCSBT countries are Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, NZ, nd Indonesia. Each CCSBT country is allocated an annual catch quota – which now must be fished by strict CCSBT rules.
  3. There is no doubt that large-scale illegal fishing in the past has resulted in the global Southern Bluefin Tuna being over-fished. The result is that international quotas and actual catches have been reduced. Australia’s quota has been reduced along with all other countries and SBT is now fished sustainably.
  4. The Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna quota is 98% used for the ranching of Southern Bluefin Tuna caught in the wild. The farming of fish is sometimes controversial, and although ranching is not farming, Southern Bluefin Tuna ranching is subject to the same scrutiny. Southern Bluefin Tuna ranching is based in South Australia (Port Lincoln) and operates under strict government rules, including regular environmental monitoring by the SA Government. Reports on the environmental performance of industry are publicly available  (see www.pir.sa.gov.au).
  5. Except for Australia, all Southern Bluefin Tuna caught globally is by long-lining. It is long-lining which is involved with the controversy over by-catch of seabirds, sharks, and other species. As above, almost all the Australian quota is caught by the purse seine method, which is assessed by the Australian Government as having no impact on the environment (see www.environment.gov.au). The 2% of the Australian quota caught by long-lining operates under very strict rules to avoid by-catch, and has a high level of government observer coverage.

Global distribution of Bluefin Tuna

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