As a result of quota cutbacks in 2009, the John West Tuna cannery, known as Port Lincoln Tuna Processors, is planning to do away with its production, in May. The cannery is looking forward to get shifted to Thailand.

At present, the Australian cannery employs 260 people. The shifting would lead to loss in the jobs. However, the exact figures have not been released yet.

Mr. Paul Caica, the Regional Development Minister, has explained that the Government will offer assistance packages to workers affected by the phase out.

"This package would include skills recognition services but also amongst other things, affected employees would be eligible to receive up to ten thousand dollars for vocational education and training up to an advanced diploma level", he said.

However, the CEO of the Tuna association, Mr. Brian Jeffrison said, "In periods where the Australian dollar has been very unfavorable to manufacturing in Australia, tuna farming has been able to carry other businesses through, but in this case tuna farming it's profitability has been hit by the quota cut and that affects processing in Australia then it's very difficult to carry it through".

Port Lincoln's Mayor, Peter Davis, said, "The real cream has long gone from the tuna farming game. That means that the fishermen who own the farmed tuna quota are not now able to subsidise their cannery so the tuna processing production lines have got to go".