Tasmanian Abalone Fishery 2009

Abalone landings to the end of 2009 were 2,485 tonnes (t) of blacklip (Haliotis rubra)and 122 tonnes of greenlip (H. laevigata), giving a total of 2607 t which was slightly in excess of the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) of 2604 t (due to catch overruns). Total landings increased by 23.5 t over the previous year due to a 5% increase in Eastern Zone TAC partially offset by a net loss in catch from the creation of a new fishing zone in the west.

In recent years, export prices for processed abalone have fallen due to a weaker market. The beach value of the 2009 catch was $93 million, $3 million more than the previous year. Prices for live abalone have also fallen, although the market was stronger in 2009. Royalties collected from quota holders in 2009 totalled $6.2 million.

The fishery is assessed primarily on catch, effort and size-composition data from the commercial fishery. Annual variation in catch rate was interpreted as a relative index of abalone abundance. Interpretation of catch-rate trends was assisted by changes in median length of commercial catch. In addition, consultation with the abalone industry was undertaken to obtain their observations on the state of the stocks and market drivers affecting the operation of the fishery throughout 2009.

The major findings of this assessment are summarised for each fishing zone.