Interview with Gunnar Jensen regarding the history of the Australian fishing industry
Date20 January 1990
Object numberANMS0871[118]
NameInterview
MediumCompact disk and tape
Copyright© Murdoch University
ClassificationsBorn digital media
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Murdoch University
DescriptionA recorded interview with Gunnar Jensen in Port Lincoln, South Australia, as part of a series titled 'History of the Australian Fishing Industry'. It contains information on Gunnar Jensen's arrival in Australia, his entry into the shark fishing industry, rock lobster and tuna fishing, areas and methods, prawning, return to crayfishing, craypot limits, number of boats, transferability of fishing licences, prices per craypot, modern boats, size of catch, exports and proccessing, tuna at sea, markets, fisheries management, advisory comittee, fishermen's organisations, rescue at sea, depletion of stock, ocean pollution and litter.HistoryGunnar Jensen was a seafarer on a Danish vessel before entering Australia and eventually being granted permanent resident status. He came to Port Lincoln and worked as a deckhand before acquiring his own fishing boat. He has in turn been shark fishing, rock lobster fishing, tuna fishing, prawning and again rock lobster fishing and has worked in
other States as well as in South Australia. Gunnar Jensen is a highly respected fisherman. He has been active in fishermen's organisations, on advisory committees and in establishing sea rescue facilities. He has also been involved in processing.
This recorded interview with Gunnar Jensen is part of a larger series produced as result of an oral history research project conducted by the Economics Department of Murdoch University and coordinated by Malcolm Tull. The project commissioned researchers in every Australian state to interview fishermen and others involved in catching, processing and marketing fish. Their research involved questions about daily work, personal memories of life in the Australian fishing industry as well as questions about the economics of the industry.
SignificanceThis collection of recorded interviews is significant in providing a comprehensive record of commercial fishing from the 1950s to the 1990s across Australia.
Here Gunnar Jensen presents an intelligent and balanced account of many aspects of fishing in the area. He has wide
practical experience of the industry and relates his story from the viewpoint of a very knowledgeable owner/operator.