The Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery is managed by limiting the catch of tuna and billfish species, restricting how many boats can fish and regulating what gear they can use. The species caught in the fishery are also caught by many other countries. Australia’s catch of tuna and billfish is a very small part of the total catch internationally.

TARGET SPECIES 

The species targeted by commercial fishers in the Eastern Tuna and

Billfish Fishery are:

Albacore tuna (Thunnus alulunga)

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audux)

TOTAL FISHERY VALUE

$A31.2 million (2013-14).

FISHING GEAR

Longline and minor line (including handline, troll, rod and reel) fishing

gear is used in this fishery.

Fishers mainly use longline fishing gear to catch the targeted species.

These are very long lengths of fishing line with hooks that hang down

and have bait attached. The longlines are set into the water near the

surface and catch the fish individually.

     •     Longline

     •     Minor line

LOCATION

The Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery extends from Cape York in

Queensland to the South Australian/Victorian border. Fishing occurs

in both the Australian Fishing Zone and adjacent high seas.

MAJOR LANDING PORTS

     •     Cairns

     •     Mooloolaba

     •     Coffs Harbour

     •     Sydney

     •     Ulladulla

     •     Bermagui

MARKETS SUPPLIED

     •     Canned albacore – Indonesia

     •     Fresh product – Australia, Japan, United States

     •     Frozen product – Europe, American Samoa, Thailand

FISHING SEASON

     •     12 month season, beginning on 1 March.