Forecasting Southern Bluefin Tuna Habitat in the Great Australian Bight
About the project

This project is a collaboration between CSIRO, the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association (ASBTIA) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), co-funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC Projects 2012/239 & 2018/194).

Project Aim: To investigate habitat preferences of southern bluefin tuna (SBT) in the Great Australian Bight (GAB) based on historical archival tag data, and to provide forecasts of probable habitat distribution.

Motivation: The original project was initiated in 2012 in response to observed changes in spatial distribution of SBT in the GAB through recent fishing seasons, and was updated in 2019-2021 to include new archival tag data and new forecasting models.

Planned Outcome: Forecast maps of preferred SBT habitat should improve operational planning of fishers targeting surface schools for value-adding of a quota restricted resource.

 

Actual SST map

 

 

Observed environmental conditions

For maps of recently observed conditions in the GAB, go to:

Observed conditions

Actual SST map

 

 

Forecasted sea surface temperature

For forecasts of SST in the GAB over the next two months, go to:

SST forecasts

Actual SST map

 

 

Preferred habitat forecasts

For maps showing areas of preferred SBT habitat in the GAB over the next two months, go to:

Habitat preference forecasts