Tuna

People farming tunaThe farming of Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is currently the single most valuable sector of South Australia’s aquaculture industry. Southern bluefin tuna farming is unique to South Australia and its development in 1991 initially put South Australian aquaculture on the map.

The industry is only open to those who have access to part of the Australian quota and who possess the necessary farm lease sites, and the equipment and expertise to catch tuna. In practical terms, the only such people are tuna fishers, and thus tuna farming can be seen as a direct outgrowth and continuation of South Australia’s tuna fishing industry. Quota is an entitlement, which can be sold or leased to other operators.

The availability of aquaculture sites with long-term access lease and licence security is a precondition for successful tuna aquaculture.

Tuna are caught in the Southern Ocean, operating under a strict quota system, transferred to Port Lincoln and fattened in cages for a period of between 3 – 5 months depending on the market requirements. Most product is sold frozen, under contract arrangements, where lower prices are often paid compared to fresh fish, but without the uncertainty of market and auction price fluctuations at harvest time.

Production

South Australia’s tuna industry has increased production significantly since 1995/96, now producing more than 9,000 tonnes of processed tuna, valued at over $260M.

Industry estimates that South Australia will be producing over 10,000 tonnes of tuna valued at over $300M by 2003/04.

Economic Impact

The Economic Impact report 2002/03 (.PDF 242KB) shows that the tuna farming industry provides significant direct and indirect benefits to the South Australian economy. In 2002/03, direct business turnover (output) generated in South Australia by tuna farms totalled $266M and in other sectors (processing and transport), almost $24M. Flow-ons to other sectors added another $218M in business turnover.

Markets

Australian farmed tuna is sold almost exclusively to the Japanese sashimi markets, however some growers are beginning to look further abroad to other markets such as the United States. Most product is now sold frozen, under contract arrangement, rather than by auction.

The Southern bluefin tuna industry is beginning to develop a real-time market response capacity that will ensure they are well placed in the future to support further market diversification and product development.

For more information on future production and marketing of Southern bluefin tuna, download the following reports: Aquaculture Industry Market Assessment 2002 (.PDF 3.4MB) and South Australian Aquaculture Market Analysis 2002 (.PDF 3.5MB).

Industry Development

International interest in tuna aquaculture is also rapidly increasing and maintaining the local industry’s competitive advantage will be a major focus of the future.

Strategies to address a positive business environment include:

  • Commissioning research to address key questions associated with aquaculture development applications.
  • Communicating the detailed, orderly and strongly regulated nature of State Government resource allocation procedures and the results of environmental assessment and monitoring to those in the community.
  • Supporting research focused on the management of the pilchard fisheries, the development of manufactured feeds and the propagation of SBT.

Contact Details

For further information on the tuna industry in South Australia, please contact:

Tuna Boat Owners Association of Australia
Mr Brian Jeffriess
PO Box 416
Fullarton SA 5063
Phone: 08 8373 2507
Fax: 08 8373 2508
Mobile: 0419 840 299