Global fishing of Southern Bluefin Tuna was started by Japan in 1952, with the global catch peaking in 1961. In the late 1980s a joint decision by Australia, Japan and NZ led to a quota system to manage Southern Bluefin Tuna catches.
Industry average weight of GG product (tonnes) and value (yen/kg) of SBT produced in South Australia over the period 1993-2012 (ASBTIA 2012, Japan Trade Data, Ministry of Finance 2013).
Pioneers in Tuna Ranching
Global Southern Bluefin Tuna ranching was pioneered in Port Lincoln between 1991 and 1993 as a means for value-adding the catch. These Port Lincoln tuna ranching techniques have been adopted in Europe and Mexico where other species of Bluefin tuna are farmed.
The tuna ranching industry is a young industry (20 years), which has seen rapid developments in technology and husbandry techniques during this short time.
In 2009 a controversial global Southern Bluefin Tuna quota cut resulted in the Australian quota being reduced by 29%, with the quota at 4,015 tonnes for 2011.
90% of the Australian quota is owned by the Port Lincoln fishery. In spite of the quota cut, new data in 2010-11 indicates that Southern Bluefin Tuna stocks are recovering very strongly.