the economy is based on loading wheat onto ships. the port can handle over 337,500 tonnes) of wheat. there is also the canning and fish processing works, lambs, wool and beef, and tuna farming for the japanese market. the port is home to a large commercial fishing fleet. there is also fish farming (aquaculture) of the following species: tuna, kingfish, abalone, mussels, oysters, and experimental farming in seahorses and spiny lobsters. before the introduction of fish farming, the main fishing was for southern bluefin tuna.