Forecasting spatial distribution of Southern Bluefin Tuna habitat in the Great Australian Bight – updating and improving habitat and forecast models

This project will support improved operational planning in the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) purse-seine fishery for ranching operations in direct response to observed changes in fish distribution over the past seven years. A habitat forecast system was developed using a seasonal climate model that is being decommissioned and superseded by a new model (ACCESS-S). The current project will undertake the necessary migration of the current habitat forecasts to run using ACCESS-S. This will not only keep the forecast delivery website operational, but will also mean that a higher resolution, state-of-the-art forecasting model is being used. The updated model will produce updated fortnightly to monthly higher resolution forecasts of SBT habitat distribution in the Great Australian Bight and deliver these via the existing website. In addition, it will be possible to make additions and modifications to the existing website as requested by industry.