Queensland to support Tuna Australia amid Covid-19

Australia’s Queensland Government has agreed to support not-for-profit fisheries industry group Tuna Australia to help it rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of this new initiative, Tuna Australia will receive a $50,000 grant from the government. The group previously applied for a share of the $500,000 Market Diversification and Resilience Grant Program.

Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said: “Like other economies around the world, the Covid-19 pandemic hit Queensland businesses hard.

“We are continuing to manage the health response well and that means we can start to deliver Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.

“The Queensland government is working closely with industry on the economic recovery of the agriculture and fisheries sectors, including agribusiness exporters who support thousands of jobs.”

The pandemic is said to have impacted Tuna Australia member’s business operations and threatened its economic viability.

With this new funding, Tuna Australia will be able to develop a roadmap to support new domestic and export markets using modified atmospheric packaging.

Tuna Australia CEO David Ellis said: “Current business models focus on high volume bulk sales of whole fish into niche and boutique markets while the ‘value add’ of tuna loins and portions are usually completed by another party.

“Removing this step of the process and diversifying into the tuna loin sector would create greater market access and improve economic efficiencies.”

In a separate development, the government has also agreed to support Australian Ocean King Prawns, which exports premium wild-caught ocean king prawns.

A $7,500 grant will be provided to the company to purchase a vacuum packaging machine to improve the quality of its stored seafood.