Estimated Catch: 4,337 tonnes

Stock Status of Target Species

Source: Patterson, H, Williams, A, Woodhams, J and Curtotti, R 2019, Fishery status reports 2019, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra. CC BY 4.0.

MANAGEMENT PLANS/ARRANGEMENTS

The fishery continues to be managed in accordance with the Eastern Tuna and BiHfish Fishery Management Plan 2010, and conservation and management measures mandated by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission of which Australia is a member. The fishery is managed through output controls (total allowable commercial catches and individually transferable quotas) and input controls (e.g. limited entry and gear restrictions).

During the period 2018-19 the fishery switched to a calendar year season, initiated a project to update the harvest strategies for Broadbill Swordfish and Striped Marlin, conducted a revised Ecological Risk Assessment and developed an ETBF Fishery Management Strategy. The Fishery Management Strategy describes the operational processes AFMA employs to meet the requirements of the higher level ETBF Fishery Management Plan 2010. Performance criteria detailed in the fishery management plan were met in 2018-19.

ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE

Status of stocks

Overall, Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery catches of key commercial species were around 13 per cent lower in 2018 relative to the 2017, with reduced catches apparent for each of the main species. The availability of many of these species to the fishery varies between years. A relatively high proportion of the total allowable commercial catches were caught for swordfish and striped marlin but less so for yellowfin tuna and less than half the total allowable commercial catches set for albacore tuna and bigeye tuna were caught. Domestically, the total allowable commercial catches of all the key commercial species are currently considered to be appropriate and of no concern to the status of these regional stocks.

There are currently three major research projects underway in the fishery. The first aims to use genetic information to assess connectivity between target species in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery and the broader Pacific Ocean. The second project aims to investigate oceanographic impacts on the fishery to better understand inter-annual variations in catches, interactions between fishery sectors, connectivity and longer term potential climate change impacts. The third project is looking to update and improve the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Harvest Strategy for Swordfish and Striped Marlin, which is used as the basis for setting total allowable commercial catches for those species.

The Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery is part of the broader Western and Central Pacific tuna fishery managed under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. The most recent Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission assessments for each of the five target stocks indicate that none of these stocks are overfished or subject to overfishing.

An ecological risk assessment for the fishery was completed in mid-2019 and indicates that the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery longline fishery as a whole does not pose a high risk to the ecological sustainability of general bycatch, protected species or by-product species.

Fishery management arrangements

Since July 2015 all boats fishing more than 30 days a year in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery have been required to have a system of cameras and sensors installed to monitor all fishing operations. Footage is recorded when fishing operations are occurring to verify the logbook records. All fishing operations on full time boats are now monitored, with 10 per cent of all longline shots (minimum of one shot per boat, per month) reviewed and compared to the logbook reports. Regular feedback reports are provided to Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery operators to inform them of their reporting performance. Since the implementation of e-monitoring, analyses conducted by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences has indicated an improvement in logbook reporting. The improved logbook reporting will enable AFMA to make better risk assessments and better focus resources to minimise the impact of fishing on the marine environment.

Between May and November each year, we also implemented a southern bluefin tuna zone in the fishery to help ensure that any southern bluefin tuna caught is covered by quota and minimise discarding. To enter the zone, Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery operators are required to hold a minimum amount of southern bluefin tuna quota and maintain an operational electronic monitoring system on board. The southern bluefin tuna zone location is reviewed weekly using sea surface temperature maps and industry catch information.

In 2018-19, we also initiated a project to update and improve the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Harvest Strategy, revised the ecological risk assessment for the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery longline fishery and finalised the development of an integrated Fisheries Management Strategy that updates and combines previous fishery strategies and action plans into a single strategy to operationalise the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2010.

In relation to protected species, an increase in seabird interactions in the southern half of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery was reported in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 summer seasons. AFMA is currently responding to that increase as required under the Seabird Threat Abatement Plan 2018. AFMA is also continuing to review turtle and marine mammal interaction data to better understand the fisheries interactions with these species. AFMA has now transitioned the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery fishing season to the calendar year (from 1 January 2019), following advice from AFMA Management and the Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee.

EXTERNAL REVIEWS

Compliance by the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery with Conservation and Management Measures of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is reviewed on an annual basis under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Compliance Monitoring Scheme. In 2018-19, as in previous years, Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery management arrangements were consistent with Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission measures.

One significant operator in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery has achieved certification from the Marine Stewardship Council for catches of yellowfin tuna,swordfish and albacore.

Feature Story: Thwarting the high seas tuna plunderers

REGIONAL EFFORTS TO PROTECT TUNA AND BILLFISH STOCKS FROM ILLEGAL FISHING

Protecting Australia's tuna and billfish stocks starts well beyond the national borders. Many of the tuna and billfish species important to Australia's fisheries occur over large areas of ocean and are targeted by the commercial fleets of many nations. Managing and monitoring these stocks relies on international cooperation and recent developments in electronic surveillance technology have provided some additional tools to assist flag States in monitoring their fleets.

Australia's commercial tuna longline fisheries have among the strongest monitoring and compliance systems in the world, but monitoring of international longline fleets, particularly on the high seas, outside of Australia's jurisdiction pose big risks to stock sustainability. Given the migratory nature of these species, unreliable data relating to fishing activity in waters adjacent to Australia can have flow-on implications for the availability of tuna and billfish to Australia's recreational and commercial fishers.

UNKNOWN NUMBERS

One of the biggest threats is fishing by licensed longline boats that under-report, misreport and/or do not report catch. As scientific assessments of tuna and billfish population health rely heavily on fisheries catch and biological data, if a large proportion of fish are being taken without being recorded, managers could think the stocks are healthy when they are not, and fail to take action in time.

In contrast to regional purse seine fisheries, which have 100 per cent human observer coverage, most of the large distant-water tuna longline fleets in the Pacific Ocean have very low observer coverage, especially on the high seas. In addition to limited space, working conditions on many of these boats are often cramped and in some cases, can be considered unsafe for human observers.

With electronic monitoring on all longline fleets in the south-eastern Pacific region, managers would be far better informed of the catch of tuna and billfish, and keep fishing pressure to sustainable levels.

ENHANCED MONITORING FOR ALL

AFMA's multifaceted program to combat illegal fishing includes monitoring control, surveillance and enforcement activities such as capacity building, education and outreach programs. AFMA routinely participates in regional monitoring control, surveillance and enforcement operations involving counterparts from many Pacific island countries as well as the United States, France, New Zealand, Indonesia and Timor Leste.

A key initiative that AFMA, the broader Australian Government and our Pacific island country partners are working on is supporting the roll-out of electronic logbook reporting and electronic monitoring (a system of video cameras) on tuna longline fleets in the region.

Australia implemented electronic monitoring on 100 per cent of boats in its domestic Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery in 2015 and strong momentum is building for this to occur in domestic longline fisheries across the region. Eight Pacific island nations have implemented or are trialling electronic monitoring in their fleets. Recognition of the benefits of electronic monitoring is driving the development of regional standards to support consistent monitoring of vessel activities. Electronic monitoring systems are able to collect a range of routine data on fishing activity, are able to work 24 hours a day and the footage can be viewed multiple times to ensure accurate data is available to our scientists and compliance officers.

These initiatives strive towards maintaining healthy and sustainable tuna and billfish stocks, a goal that is so important to regional, artisanal, commercial and recreational fisheries alike.

With electronic monitoring on all longline fleets in the south-eastern Pacific region, managers would be far better informed of the catch of tuna and billfish, and keep fishing pressure to sustainable levels. Photo courtesy AFMA Media Library