CUTS to southern bluefin tuna quotas have many long-line fishermen worried but Ulladulla’s Mario Puglisi and Mario Basile are optimistic about the changes.
The two men hold the largest bluefin quotas in the district and have been expecting their quotas to be cut for many years.
They believe a glut in the market, coupled with the global economic crisis, has seen the demand for bluefin fall and prices plummet in recent years.
Mr Puglisi said the timely worldwide cut to quotas could result in a rise in demand, ultimately leading to an increase in prices.
“I think it will be better for the industry in the long run,” he said.
Following an international meeting in South Korea last week, Australia’s southern bluefin tuna quota will be slashed by 23.7 per cent when the new fishing season begins on December 1.
Mr Puglisi said the tuna industry was battling to stay afloat and he hoped the quota cuts would improve the situation.
“We won’t see any change this season but I believe things will improve in the future.
“There’s a lot of quota not being used and a lot of fish we can’t get rid of.
“These cuts should solve both of those problems and be a win for the environment at the same time,” he said.
While understanding the need to cut quotas worldwide in an effort to increase fish stocks and improve the market, Mr Puglisi said a lot of larger operators would be hit hard.
“I know one person who leases all his quota for $24 million each year – so 25 per cent of that is a lot of money for him to lose in one hit.”
Mr Puglisi who leases his quota to operators in Port Lincoln, South Australia, said since last week’s announcement the demand for quota had started picking up.
“We shouldn’t have a problem leasing all our quota but prices will stay low this season.”
Had the demand for bluefin been as high as it was 10 years ago, he said he didn’t think the cuts would have been made.
“I think they’ve looked at the glut in the market, the unused quota and the decline in numbers, and decided this was the best decision.
“The hard thing is, when things pick up again, it will be very difficult to get the quota back.”
He said operators would not be compensated for the quota cuts.
Fellow Ulladulla fisherman Mario Basile has felt the impact of falling tuna prices and the global economic downturn.
He was unable to lease all his quota this year, so decided to fish out of Ulladulla with his two long-lining vessels.
“We had a good year and easily filled our quota.
“There were a lot of fish – the most I’ve ever seen - and they were in close,” he said.
“But there’s so many people catching bluefin that the market is overflowing and prices are very low.
“I agree with Mario that the quota cuts should bring the prices back up and improve the market for fresh tuna.”
Mr Basile said places such as Port Lincoln, which is home to 95 per cent of the country’s tuna industry, would be hit harder than Ulladulla.
He said, while quota owners would take a financial hit by the cuts initially, Ulladulla’s fishing co-op could benefit from lower quota prices again this season.
The availability and low price meant more local fishermen would be able to afford to lease quotas and work out of Ulladulla.
“It’s good for our co-op to have bluefin going through.”
Mr Puglisi and Mr Basile said there were benefits for some and disadvantages for others, but overall the cuts should be good for the industry.
“We just have to make sure we don’t see another big cut in two or three years,” Mr Puglisi said.
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