A TEMPORARY solution has been found to continue Furneaux Freight's shipping services to the Flinders and Cape Barren island communities.
Tasmania's Ports Minister, Rene Hidding, has announced QUBE Ports will take over stevedoring services for a 60-day trial.
Mr Hidding said the government would release shipping contingency funds towards the extra costs incurred during the trial.
Earlier, the company which exports lamb from Flinders Island called for "common sense" to prevail over the freight dispute.
Flinders Island Meat runs a small abattoir on the island, and principal David Madden said disputes between Furneaux Freight and TasPorts were common.
"Up until now they have been negotiating with baseball bats - it's been a real Punch and Judy show," Mr Madden said.
He said it appeared there was an antagonistic attitude taken by both parties which needed to come to an end.
"There is nothing wrong with the service here but I feel very vulnerable," Mr Madden said.
"With these disputes it erodes confidence in doing business here."
The company started off with one employee and now has 20 working on the island and in Melbourne.
Livestock agent Stuart Dilger said graziers were not too concerned - although last month had been very dry - as long as the problem was resolved.
"It's the best shipping service ever," Mr Dilger said.
Flinders Island Meat director James Madden, who works out of Melbourne, said there was a need for "big-picture thinking".
He said he believed the issue arose over the shipping and storing of superphosphate.
"The fear is it will fall out of the barge and provide a significant environmental threat," Mr Madden said.
"That's the small picture.
"The big picture is that superphosphate is critical for the island to sustain itself."
Flinders Island Meat sends three to four tonnes of meat off the island each week, with some air-freighted to time-sensitive customers.
"Our entire business is based on being able to regularly and reliably get product off the island," Mr Madden said.
"I started off with two employees doing 10 lambs a week; now we have almost 15 in total, doing about 200-250 a week on average."