An international plan designed to rebuild the spawning stock of southern bluefin tuna was agreed at the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) on 13 October 2011.
The plan outlines binding targets and management rules designed to rebuild the spawning stock to around four times the current estimated levels by 2035. The management procedure identifies a global total allowable catch that will ensure the rebuilding targets for southern bluefin tuna are achieved with a 70% probability.
The latest data considered by the Scientific Committee of the CCSBT shows that the number of juvenile southern bluefin tuna has increased over the last four years due to significantly higher than average spawning. This is encouraging news and is reflected in the increased TAC established through the management procedure.
Over the next three years the global TAC will increase in stages to 12,449t and the Australian national allocation will increase to 4,528t in 2012, 4,698t in 2013 and 5,147t in 2014.
Any increases in global TAC and allocations beyond 2013 will depend on updated advice from the CCSBT Scientific Committee when it meets in 2013. The AFMA Commission will consider the 2011-12 commercial TAC for southern bluefin tuna when it meets in late October.
