Dozens of southern bluefin tuna boats are heading to the south-east coastline of South Australia to search for fresh stock. 

Over 40 vessels and six spotter planes are searching for large schools of bluefin tuna off the town of Robe, with plans to capture up to 10,000 fish at a time and tow them in cages to farms at Port Lincoln.

Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association chief executive Brian Jeffriess says La Niña is wreaking havoc on the sector, with cooler weather conditions fuelling “unpredictable” fishing trends.

“It is probably the coolest weather conditions in 10 years, which is not great,” Mr Jeffriess told the ABC.

He said the industry is vital to maintain, as it drives the Port Lincoln economy.

In the first auctions of 2020, a bluefin tuna sold for a near-record 193.2 million yen (AU$2.4 million).