Southern Bluefin Tuna Quota Increases, As Stocks Recover

A formal rebuilding strategy for southern bluefin tuna has been adopted by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Under the rebuilding strategy, the global catch limit will increase from the 2011 level of 9,449 tonnes to 10,449 tonnes in 2012 and 10,949 tonnes in 2013.

Subject to satisfactory stock assessment in 2013, the global catch limit for 2014 would be set at a maximum of 12,449 tonnes.

The spawning stock of Southern Bluefin Tuna is at an historically low level of around five per cent as a direct result of fishing practices. The new measures will mean there is a 70 per cent chance of stocks reaching 20 per cent of their former levels by 2035.

The Zhangzidao scallop fishery has become the first Chinese fishery to enter full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

Found in the North Yellow Sea, the fishery is managed by Dalian Zhangzidao Fishery Group.

It uses diving and dredging methods to produce 60,000 mt of yesso scallops each year, with fresh products sold predominantly on the domestic market and also in Korea, with frozen products sold in North America and Australia.

In Queensland, Australia, surveys of Gladstone fishing areas over the past few weeks are indicating a decrease in the number of fish with lesions or cloudy eyes. Despite Fisheries Queensland lifting a ban on fishing in the area, local fish markets have begun to refuse fish caught in the area.

General Manager of Habitat and Assessment Dr John Robertson said Fisheries Queensland had conducted a number of supervised fishing trips over the past week and results had been encouraging.