Tasmanian Abalone Fishery -2012

In 2012, landings of abalone totalled 2,363 t, comprising 2,223 t of blacklip and 140 t of greenlip, from a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 2,366 t. The total catch was lower compared with the previous year, due to a reduction (171.5 t) in the Eastern Zone TAC. Despite this reduction, the gross landed value fell by only $2.4 million to $82.4 million, as prices for live market product (mostly sourced from the Eastern, Western and Central West Zones) were stronger in 2012, while prices for canned product (mostly from the Northern and Bass Strait Zones) remained stable. Royalties collected by the Tasmanian Government in 2012 fell by $0.63 million to $5.72 million as a result of lower value. The status of the fishery was assessed using catch and catch rates from diver returns, and samples of catches were measured to provide information about the length of abalone. Information on stocks also comes through consultation with the abalone industry to obtain their observations on the state of stocks and market drivers affecting the fishery. The major findings of this assessment are summarised for each fishing zone.