The shark fishery limitation is one of the new features of the Southeast Marine Parks Plan
Adobe Stock
The Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, has announced the removal of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) as a conservation-dependent species after years of strict measures. She has also presented a new draft of the South East Marine Parks Management Plan.
Regarding the SBT delisting, the CEO of the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association, Daniel Casement indicated: "It's crucial this recovery through an ongoing commitment to responsible resource management and research, translates into ongoing fishing access and economic opportunities for the SBT purse seine fishery."
Additionally, the CEO of Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), Veronica Papacosta, congratulated on how the Ministry has conducted the consultation: "The increased level of consultation by the minister and her department has allowed us to engage meaningfully, resulting in balanced solutions that protect both marine biodiversity and the seafood industry's future."
Through a statement, SIA has alerted of the inconveniences that may arise from reduced fishing access, such as the rise in seafood prices due to the increase in costs as well.
The shark (flake) is the main product of Australia's iconic fish and chips. The shark fishery limitation is one of the new features of the Southeast Marine Parks Plan.
"This fishery, which, given marine parks and other fishery closures, has now lost access to 90% of the grounds it had 20 years ago," Simon Boag, Executive Officer of the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA), alerted.
Finally, Austral Fisheries, one of Australia's largest integrated commercial fishing companies, expressed satisfaction with the plan while advocating for recognizing the challenges the industry is and will face in the future.
According to SIA, the public consultation on the plan runs from 11 October to 14 November 2024.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) released at the beginning of the year its 2023 annual report Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries which includes all its achievements for more sustainable tuna fisheries.
The report identifies and promotes best practices in tuna and ocean conservation with fishers, vessels, tuna companies, and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).
Also, it talks about the importance of adopting electronic monitoring (EM) in all tuna fisheries regardless of vessel type or ocean region.