The role of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT).

The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of southern bluefin tuna throughout its distribution. The CCSBT's objective is to ensure, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of southern bluefin tuna. Members of the Extended Commission comprise: Australia, the European Union, the Fishing Entity of Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and South Africa (find out more about becoming a member or cooperating non-member). Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) are large, fast swimming, pelagic fish (ie. living in the open seas). SBT are found throughout the southern hemisphere mainly in waters between 30 and 50 degrees south but only rarely in the eastern Pacific. The only known breeding area is in the Indian Ocean, south-east of Java, Indonesia. Southern bluefin tuna can live for up to forty years, reach a weight of over 200 kilograms, and measure more than 2 metres in length. (find out more about southern bluefin tuna). The management of southern bluefin tuna is guided by an agreed Management Procedure (MP), which has been tuned to a 50% probability of achieving a biomass level of 30% of the original spawning stock biomass by 2035 (find out more about our management procedure). The most recent full stock assessment for southern bluefin tuna concluded that the stock, as indicated by relative Total Reproductive Output (TRO), is estimated to be 23% (21-29%) of TRO0. It also found that the stock remained below the level estimated to produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and noted that the stock status has improved since the previous stock assessments conducted in 2020, which indicated that relative TRO was at 20% (16-24%) of TRO0 (find out more about the status of the stock).

In pursuit of this objective the CCSBT performs a number of functions. It:-Is responsible for setting a total allowable catch and its allocation among the members;

• Considers and administers regulatory measures to meet Convention objectives;
• Conducts and coordinates a scientific research program aimed at providing information to support the Commission's management objectives ( the program is a mixture of member managed activities and activities managed directly by the CCSBT Secretariat);
• Takes decisions to support and implement fishery management;
• Provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to the conservation objectives of the Convention;
• Acts as a coordination mechanism for member's activities in relation to the SBT fishery;
• Fosters activities directed towards the conservation of ecologically related species (living marine species which are associated with the SBT fishery) and bycatch species;
• Encourages non members engaged in the fishery, to accede, apply for cooperating non-membership, or participate as observers in Commission activities;
• Cooperates and liaises with other regional tuna fishery management organizations in areas of mutual interest.

Upcoming Meetings

• From 03 - 04 Jul 2025;15th Operating Model and Management Procedure Technical Meeting; Online
• During the week starting 25 August 2025; 30th Meeting of the Extended Scientific Committee; Online
• From 02 - 04 Oct 2025; 20th Meeting of the Compliance Committee in Bali, Indonesia.
• From 06 - 09 Oct 2025; 32nd Annual Meeting of the CCSBT in Bali, Indonesia