how effective have the measures been to concerve abalone?

Answer 1

I have lived in Tasmania - the southernmost state of Australia - for more than 10 years. There's a thriving abalone industry here. It's in the media a lot as it's a success story for the Island.

The thriving nature derives from several factors, all of which are efforts to conserve the species. It's largely to do with economics, but they're also about ensuring a good wild population as well.

1. There are several large Marine Reserves off the coast and these are comprised of 90% "no take" zones;

2. As the shellfish fetches such a good price overseas (especially in Japan) as well as at home, the industry has been limited to a specific number of boats through a very strict set of licensing. The licences cost $AUD1 million each to buy initially and about $AUD 100 000 per year. This is a reflection of the value of the industry as a whole to the state. The penalties for illegal abalone fishing are usually custodial sentences of more than 5 years duration;

3. The Industry is strictly monitored by the Fisheries Department with a large amount of paperwork having to be done to account for every kilogram of the catch;

4. There is a strict season for each year. This is determined by female spawning time plus the first three months of the young abalone's lives. This guarantees the long-term viability as there is a time which is considered too risky for the species as a whole. If the new recruits were disturbed by the action of the fishermen and subseqwuently died, there's end up being a "gap" in the years where there were many recruits. This is, ultimately, in the best interests of the fishermen even if only in terms of such a gap's economic impact.

I believe the Industry and the species are both in a robust state of health. I can't imagine the species being allowed to become extinct! It's worth too much!

Love and Light,

Jarrah