PROTECT
Commit to participating in research and development to preserve the natural ecosystems
PROMOTE
Promote the industry and value, building the wild catch brand and verifying its market position
ENHANCE
Implement strong strategy by building real polices, developing effective processes that standardises procedures to guarantee compliance and promote best practise
THE NSW ABALONE FISHERY: LOOKING AFTER SEA COUNTRY/SOCIAL LICENCE
After the initial boom of the abalone fishery around Australia in the 1960s it soon became clear that management rules were needed to conserve and sustain the abalone resources of Australia.
NSW was at first particularly hard hit and by the early 1970s the divers, who were seeing the impacts of fishing, started calling for reform.
NSW were able to see that across the Victorian border the abalone fishery based out of Mallacoota quickly recovered following the introduction of minimum size limits and restricting the number of divers.
1980 the Abalone sea urchin and turban shell fishery became NSW first restricted fishery 59 licences.
MML increased from 100mm to 115mm over following 7 years.
1985 licences became saleable on a two for 1 basis to reduce diver numbers. (Diver numbers went from 59 to 43)
Industry funded a buy-out of another 5 licences leaving 37 divers.
In 1988 Following research funded by industry the abalone fishery became a quota managed fishery.
When the buy out loan of licences was completed industry invested the same funds into research and management and compliance.
Research funding allowed the development of Fishery Independent Surveys (FIS),providing data on pre recruits to the fishery for an accurate setting of TACs.
Following mass mortalities of abalone 200ks north and south of Sydney by the parasite perkinsus olsenii the TAC was reduced down to 75 tons.
IN 2008 following further research and data collection the MSL was increased from 115 to 117mm then in following years to 120mm with increases to 125mm in faster growth areas south from Wonboyn.
The TAC has been increased from 75 to 100 tons.
The abalone divers of NSW instigated each and every conservation initiative since the fishery’s onset.
These initiatives followed investment in research and data collection by industry.
ABALONE
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URCHINS
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