Tuna farm diving in South Australia.

Abstract

Since 1990, in response to severe cuts in tuna catch quota, the South Australian tuna fishery has captured fish at sea, then fattened and harvested them at Port Lincoln. Divers are employed in all aspects of this tuna farming operation. In response to an alarming number of diving related injuries, a strategy designed to reduce the number and severity of accidents was implemented in 1995 by the South Australian Department for Industrial Affairs and Work Cover Corporation (the South Australian workers compensation authority) in collaboration with the Australian Tuna Boat Owners Association (representing the tuna farm owners). This strategy focused on raising diving safety to an acceptable occupational standard and resulted in a significant and almost immediate drop in the number of diving related accidents. A research project has been established at The University of Adelaide studying the nature and risk of decompression illness in this industry.