ISSN 1441-8487

FISHERY ASSESSMENT REPORT

TASMANIAN ABALONE FISHERY 2002

Compiled by David Tarbath, Craig Mundy and Malcolm Haddon

May 2003

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry:

Tarbath, David Bruce, 1955- Fishery assessment report : Tasmanian abalone fishery.

Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 0 7246 4770 8.

1. Abalones - Tasmania. I. Tarbath, D. B. (David Bruce), 1955- . II. Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. Marine Research Laboratories. (Series : Technical report series (Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute)).

338.37243209946

This report was compiled by D. Tarbath, C. Mundy and M. Haddon, TAFI Marine Research Laboratories, PO BOX 252-49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Ph. (03) 6227 7277, Fax (03) 6227 8035

Published by the Marine Research Laboratories, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania 2003.

Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Executive summary

The 2002 Abalone Fishery Assessment was based primarily on commercial catch-effort statistics and size-composition data from the Tasmanian fishery for blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) and greenlip abalone (H. laevigata). Commercial catch-effort statistics were derived from data supplied by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment, based upon catch dockets provided by licensed divers. Catch rates were derived from the catch-effort statistics and annual variation in catch rate was interpreted as a relative index of abalone abundance. The size-composition data were mostly collected by TAFI research staff, but some data were obtained directly from divers. Changes in size-composition from commercial catch samples were used to assess variation in levels of fishing mortality across years.

Since 2000, the Tasmanian blacklip abalone fishery has been sub-divided into geographical zones (in 2002 the Eastern, Western and Northern Zones). The purpose of zoning is to manage the distribution of effort and protect the more accessible areas from high fishing pressure and consequent over-exploitation. Each of these zones and the greenlip abalone fishery are individually managed, with their own total allowable catch (TAC), legal minimum size and in some cases, localised annual catch limits (caps).

In 2002, the TAC from all parts of the fishery was 2537.5 tonnes. This was a substantial reduction from the previous year’s total of 2800 tonnes, and is a result of the reduction in the TAC in the Eastern Zone from 1120 tonnes to 857.5 tonnes. This TAC reduction was one of several controls (including a size limit increase of 4 mm and a cap on part of the fishery) implemented by managers to limit over-exploitation of east coast abalone stocks, and was the first step towards a managed recovery of these stocks.

Despite management efforts, catch rates in the Eastern Zone fishery in 2002 have continued the decline apparent in 2001. This lack of response is disturbing. Current catch rates in the Eastern Zone blocks are comparable to the historically low catch rates reported from these blocks in the mid 1980’s following the historically high total catch in the early 1980’s. Because the techniques used by divers to harvest abalone in 2002 are in many ways advanced compared to those used in the early 1980’s, the current low catch rates are themselves significant. They suggest that the current abalone stocks are likely to be more depleted than the stocks that were being fished in the mid 1980’s. If correct, this would mean that stock levels in the Eastern Zone could be at their lowest since the start of the fishery. More critically, on the East Coast between Eaglehawk Neck and Eddystone Point, the reduced levels of catch, in conjunction with falling catch rates indicate that whole populations (i.e. not just the fishable biomass) are declining. For the second successive year, commercial catches from Maria Island failed to show evidence of successful recruitment.

While there were no improvements in catch rates in the Eastern Zone in 2002, there was some evidence for positive stock response to the 4-mm size-limit increase imposed at the start of 2002. Divers from both the southern and far northern parts of the zone have reported that they saw more undersized abalone on the reefs. And, as expected, we

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page i Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002 have been able to detect a small increase in average size among abalone sampled from divers’ catches from the Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, 13D, and 13E).

As a response to the creation of the Western Zone and its attendant higher levels of catch, the parts of the zone most accessible to divers have experienced much greater levels of effort. For several years, catch rates have been trending downwards in the northern (north of Sandy Cape) and southern (east of South West Cape) parts of the zone. In 2002, catches were lower than in 2001 and yet catch rates continued to fall. The most optimistic interpretation of this decline is that fishable biomass has also declined in Blocks 6 and 12, and that current levels of catch are unsustainable and some management action is required to limit catches in these localities.

The more remote parts of the Western Zone (South West Cape to Sandy Cape; excepting Sub-blocks 9A and 9B) continue to support a robust fishery. There are no reasons to believe the present level of catches on this part of the coast is not sustainable. The option of transferring catch displaced from the northern and southern parts of the Western Zone into the more remote parts of the zone would entail risking the stability of the latter fishery. A risk averse and precautionary solution would be to maintain effort in the remote parts at levels similar to the 2002 fishing year until stock changes, either up or down, become apparent.

2002 was the second year of operation for the Northern Zone. The current Northern Zone TAC was set assuming that divers would shift effort into areas supporting good stocks of fishable abalone. However, it appears that Tasmanian mainland based divers have found the more remote parts, such as King Island, too difficult and costly to fish, and have concentrated instead on the more accessible parts of the fishery in the North West and North East. Consequently there appears to be an imbalance between stock levels and fishing effort, and the accessible stocks will need protection in order to prevent depletion. The potential for disproportionately high levels of effort to be applied to the more productive parts of the North West has been recognised by managers. The outcome was to place an annual catch limit on Block 5 in 2003. However, the evidence of continuously declining catch rates, and the nearly unanimous commentary from divers that this region cannot sustain the present level of catch suggests that stock levels in the remaining part of the North West are at best stable, but are probably falling. This implies that the annual catch in those blocks now needs to be limited. Fishable biomass also appears to have declined in the North East, where catch rates have fallen sharply compared with the previous year, and is unlikely to sustain continued catches at current TAC levels.

Catch rates in the Greenlip fishery indicate that stock levels are mostly stable on King Island and the Furneaux Group, but are falling in the North West and North East in a pattern similar to the Northern Zone blacklip fishery. The annual catch is limited in all these regions except King Island. The levels of fishable biomass appear to be falling in the North West and North East, and are also unlikely to sustain continued catches at current TAC levels.

From the limited information available, it appears that about 75 percent of the recreational catch (estimated at 140,000 abalone for the 2000 – 2001 season) was taken from the east and southeast coasts where fishable biomass is now substantially depleted. Of most concern is that the number of recreational abalone diving licenses

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page ii Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002 continues to grow unabated at 10 percent per annum. We are unsure how this affects levels of catch, though it seems likely to be increasing. This complicates the process of establishing safe levels of catch and setting a TAC. As the recreational catch is largely derived from the stressed portions of the Eastern Zone, we require more precise information about the size of the recreational abalone catch and distribution of effort.

A number of management options to ensure that current stock levels are fished sustainable have been carefully considered. These options included changes in TAC, changes in size limit, localised catch limits and area closures.

In summary, the major findings and associated management options of the assessment were:

• Increases in TAC in recent years have increased both effort throughout the fishery and the likelihood that all stocks around the State will be fished. One consequence of this has been an intensification of management. However, this assessment has found that the spatial scale of management is still insufficient to prevent localised stock declines. This means that fishery managers need to manage the fishery more intensively, with an increased number of controls and regulations to ensure that adequate stock levels are sustained.

• Despite a quota reduction in the Eastern Zone in 2002, the decline in catch rates continued. This suggests that whole populations and not just legal-sized abalone were affected. Further action is required to promote the recovery of these stocks. Evaluation of all options indicates that a further reduction in TAC is necessary.

• The Western Zone fishable stock levels were generally healthy, but were lower and probably falling in the most accessible parts (the south and the far north). It would be risk averse to limit the annual catch from these areas.

• In the Northern Zone, most of the catch was taken from the North West and North East and, consequently, the fishable biomass there has become reduced. In more remote regions, such as King Island, stock levels were healthy. Fishing effort either must either be diverted to the remote regions in 2003, or if this is economically unfeasible for divers, the annual catch in the North West and North East should be limited and the TAC reduced accordingly.

• Rates of exploitation of Greenlip stocks were high in all areas. They were highest in the North West and North East where falling catches and catch rates were consistent with reduced levels of fishable stock and unsustainable catches. The best option for the Greenlip fishery is to reduce the regional catch in the North West and North East, and reduce the TAC accordingly.

• Annual estimates of the size of the recreational catch for the east and southeast coasts should be developed, and an appropriate level of catch determined to ensure that recreational divers do not further impact on depleted stocks. Developing an appropriate means of monitoring this fishery is recommended.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page iii Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... I

1. INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 INTERPRETING GRAPHICAL INFORMATION:...... 2 2. LANDED CATCHES, 2002 ...... 7

3. EASTERN ZONE BLACKLIP...... 8 3.1 EASTERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS ...... 8 3.2 BLOCK 13 (ACTAEONS)...... 9 3.2.1 Sub-block 13C ...... 10 3.2.2 Sub-block 13D...... 10 3.2.3 Sub-block 13E ...... 11 3.3 BLOCK 14 (LOWER CHANNEL, SOUTH BRUNY ISLAND AND THE FRIARS) ...... 12 3.3.1 Sub-block 14A...... 12 3.3.2 Sub-block 14B ...... 13 3.3.3 Sub-block 14D...... 14 3.3.4 Sub-block 14E ...... 14 3.4 BLOCK 15 (D’ENTRECASTEAUX CHANNEL)...... 15 3.5 BLOCK 16 (EASTERN SIDE OF BRUNY ISLAND) ...... 15 3.5.1 Sub-block 16A...... 16 3.5.2 Sub-block 16B ...... 16 3.5.3 Sub-block 16C ...... 17 3.5.4 Sub-block 16D...... 18 3.6 BLOCK 17 (SOUTH ARM TO CREMORNE, BLACKJACK SHORELINE TO OUTER NORTH HEAD)..19 3.6.1 Sub-block 17B ...... 19 3.7 BLOCK 18 (DERWENT RIVER, IRON POT) ...... 20 3.8 BLOCK 19 (NORTHERN FREDERICK HENRY BAY) ...... 20 3.9 BLOCK 20 (WESTERN SIDE OF TASMAN PENINSULA) ...... 20 3.9.1 Sub-block 20A...... 21 3.9.2 Sub-block 20B ...... 21 3.9.3 Sub-block 20C ...... 22 3.10 BLOCK 21 (SOUTHERN SHORE OF TASMAN PENINSULA)...... 23 3.10.1 Sub-block 21A ...... 23 3.10.2 Sub-block 21C ...... 24 3.11 BLOCK 22 (EAST TASMAN PENINSULA)...... 25 3.11.1 Sub-block 22A ...... 25 3.11.2 Sub-block 22B ...... 26 3.12 BLOCK 23 (FORESTIER PENINSULA) ...... 26 3.12.1 Sub-block 23A ...... 27 3.12.2 Sub-block 23B ...... 27 3.13 BLOCK 24 (MARIA ISLAND, WESTERN SHORE OF MERCURY PASSAGE)...... 28 3.13.1 Sub-block 24A ...... 28 3.13.2 Sub-block 24B ...... 29 3.13.3 Sub-block 24C ...... 30 3.13.4 Sub-block 24D ...... 31 3.13.5 Sub-block 24E...... 31 3.14 BLOCK 25 (EAST COAST) ...... 32 3.15 BLOCK 26 (EAST COAST) ...... 32 3.16 BLOCK 27 (EASTERN SIDE OF FREYCINET PENINSULA, SCHOUTEN ISLAND) ...... 33 3.16.1 Sub-block 27A ...... 33 3.16.2 Sub-block 27B ...... 34

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page iv Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.16.3 Sub-block 27C ...... 34 3.16.4 Sub-block 27D...... 35 3.17 BLOCK 28 (FRIENDLY BEACHES TO SEYMOUR, INCLUDING BICHENO) ...... 36 3.18 BLOCK 29 (SEYMOUR TO ST HELENS POINT)...... 36 3.18.1 Sub-block 29D...... 37 3.19 BLOCK 30 (ST HELENS POINT TO EDDYSTONE POINT)...... 37 3.19.1 Sub-block 30A...... 38 3.20 BLOCK 31 (EDDYSTONE TO MUSSELROE BAY) ...... 38 3.20.1 Sub-block 31A...... 39 3.21 EASTERN ZONE SUMMARY...... 53 4. WESTERN ZONE BLACKLIP ...... 55 4.1 WESTERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS...... 55 4.2 BLOCK 6 (ARTHUR BEACH TO ITALIAN RIVER, INCLUDING SUNDOWN, COUTA ROCKS, TEMMA AND SANDY CAPE) ...... 56 4.2.1 Sub-block 6A...... 56 4.2.2 Sub-block 6B...... 57 4.2.3 Sub-block 6C...... 57 4.2.4 Sub-block 6D...... 58 4.3 BLOCK 7 (ITALIAN RIVER TO GRANVILLE HARBOUR)...... 59 4.3.1 Sub-block 7A...... 59 4.3.2 Sub-block 7B...... 60 4.3.3 Sub-block 7C...... 60 4.4 BLOCK 8 (GRANVILLE HARBOUR TO OCEAN BEACH)...... 61 4.4.1 Sub-block 8A...... 61 4.5 BLOCK 9 (OCEAN BEACH TO POINT HIBBS) ...... 61 4.5.1 Sub-block 9B...... 62 4.5.2 Sub-block 9C...... 62 4.6 BLOCK 10 (POINT HIBBS TO LOW ROCKY POINT)...... 63 4.6.1 Sub-block 10A...... 63 4.6.2 Sub-block 10B...... 64 4.6.3 Sub-block 10C...... 64 4.6.4 Sub-block 10D...... 64 4.7 BLOCK 11 (LOW ROCKY POINT TO FAULTS BAY, INCLUDING PORT DAVEY)...... 65 4.7.1 Sub-block 11A...... 65 4.7.2 Sub-block 11B...... 65 4.7.3 Sub-block 11C...... 66 4.7.4 Sub-block 11D...... 66 4.7.5 Sub-block 11E ...... 66 4.8 BLOCK 12 (FAULTS BAY TO PRION BEACH, INCLUDING SOUTH WEST CAPE, COX BIGHT AND MAATSUYKER ISLAND) ...... 67 4.8.1 Sub-block 12A...... 67 4.8.2 Sub-block 12B...... 68 4.8.3 Sub-block 12C...... 68 4.8.4 Sub-block 12D...... 69 4.9 BLOCK 13 (PRION BEACH TO WHALE HEAD)...... 70 4.9.1 Sub-block 13A...... 70 4.9.2 Sub-block 13B...... 71 4.10 WESTERN ZONE SUMMARY...... 81 5. NORTHERN ZONE BLACKLIP ...... 83 5.1 NORTHERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS...... 83 5.2 BLOCK 5 (SOUTH ARTHUR BEACH TO WOOLNORTH POINT)...... 84 5.2.1 Sub-block 5A...... 84 5.2.2 Sub-block 5B...... 85 5.2.3 Sub-block 5C...... 85 5.3 BLOCK 49 (WOOLNORTH POINT TO HUNTER ISLAND, INCLUDING WESTERN AND NORTHERN HUNTER ISLAND, AND THREE HUMMOCK ISLAND) ...... 86 5.3.1 Sub-block 49A...... 86

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page v Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.3.2 Sub-block 49B ...... 87 5.3.3 Sub-block 49C ...... 87 5.4 BLOCK 48 (WOOLNORTH POINT TO THE DUCK RIVER, INCLUDING THE EASTERN SIDE OF HUNTER ISLAND, THE PETRELS AND BLACK REEF) ...... 88 5.4.1 Sub-block 48C ...... 88 5.5 BLOCK 3 (SOUTH-WEST KING ISLAND)...... 88 5.5.1 Sub-block 3A...... 89 5.5.2 Sub-block 3C ...... 89 5.6 BLOCK 4 (SOUTH-EAST KING ISLAND) ...... 90 5.6.1 Sub-block 4C ...... 90 5.7 BLOCK 39 (TOMAHAWK TO LITTLE MUSSELROE) ...... 91 5.7.1 Sub-block 39A...... 91 5.8 BLOCK 31 (LITTLE MUSSELROE TO MUSSELROE BAY, INCLUDING SWAN ISLAND)...... 92 5.8.1 Sub-block 31B ...... 92 5.9 BLOCK 33 (SOUTH-EAST CAPE BARREN ISLAND) ...... 93 5.9.1 Sub-block 33B (Passage Island and shore including Cone Point)...... 93 5.10 NORTHERN ZONE SUMMARY...... 99 6. GREENLIP FISHERY...... 101 6.1 GREENLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS ...... 101 6.2 BLOCK 1 (NORTH WEST KING ISLAND)...... 102 6.3 BLOCK 2 (NORTH EAST KING ISLAND)...... 102 6.4 BLOCK 4 (SOUTH EAST KING ISLAND)...... 102 6.5 BLOCK 5 (WEST OF WOOLNORTH POINT) ...... 103 6.6 BLOCK 49 (WOOLNORTH POINT TO HUNTER ISLAND, INCLUDING THREE HUMMOCK IS.) ....103 6.7 BLOCK 48 (WOOLNORTH POINT TO DUCK RIVER, INCLUDING BLACK REEF)...... 103 6.7.1 Sub-block 48A...... 104 6.8 BLOCK 31 (LITTLE MUSSELROE TO CAPE NATURALISTE) ...... 104 6.9 BLOCK 39 (LITTLE MUSSELROE TO TOMAHAWK) ...... 104 6.10 BLOCK 40 (TOMAHAWK TO WATERHOUSE BEACH) ...... 105 6.11 BLOCK 32 (SOUTH CAPE BARREN ISLAND, ARMSTRONG CHANNEL) ...... 105 6.12 BLOCK 33 (SOUTH EAST CLARKE, CAPE BARREN ISLANDS)...... 105 6.13 BLOCK 34 (WEST COAST FLINDERS, CAPE BARREN ISLANDS)...... 106 6.14 BLOCK 35 (FRANKLIN SOUND)...... 106 6.15 BLOCK 36 (EAST COAST FLINDERS, CAPE BARREN ISLANDS)...... 106 6.16 BLOCK 37 (NORTH WEST FLINDERS ISLAND)...... 107 6.17 BLOCK 38 (NORTH EAST FLINDERS ISLAND)...... 107 6.18 GREENLIP FISHERY SUMMARY ...... 112 7. RECREATIONAL FISHERY ...... 113

8. DISCUSSION ...... 114 8.1 THE USE OF FISHERY DATA TO INFER CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE...... 114 8.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF CATCH-RATE FALLS ...... 115 8.2.1 The effect of changes in size limits and market preferences on catch rates ...... 115 8.2.2 The effect of changing levels of catch on catch rates...... 116 8.3 ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ABUNDANCE INFORMATION...... 118 8.4 FISHERY PERFORMANCE BY ZONE...... 118 8.5 OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO MANAGERS...... 119 9. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGERS ...... 122 APPENDIX 1: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE WESTERN ZONE 1975 - 2002...... 127 APPENDIX 2: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE EASTERN ZONE 1975 - 2002...... 128 APPENDIX 3: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE NORTHERN ZONE 1975 - 2002...... 129 APPENDIX 4: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE GREENLIP FISHERY 1975 - 2002...... 130 APPENDIX 5: ANNUAL TOTAL CATCH, EFFORT AND MEAN CATCH RATE, BY STATE, REGION, BLOCK AND YEAR...... 131

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page vi Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

1. Introduction

This stock assessment report represents a departure from previous reports, in that much of the material that described the biology of abalone and fishing details has been omitted in the interests of producing a document, the sole purpose of which is devoted to assessing the status of abalone stocks in the Tasmanian fishery. The omitted material is readily available from DPIWE in the form of annual explanations of zones and size limits and periodic reviews of the abalone management plans. In addition, previously published reports containing this material are available from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute web-site: http://www.utas.edu.au/docs/tafi/TAFI_Homepage.html

The Tasmanian abalone fishery is assessed using information produced from divers’ catch dockets, and the measurement of abalone from samples of divers’ catches. Primarily it relies on analysis of trends in catch and catch rates over a 10 year period (at statistical block level) or a three year period (sub-block level). Previous assessments made extensive use of the comparison of current catch and catch rates with those from defined reference periods. However, because of improvements in the way divers collect abalone and the probable depletion of abalone producing reefs and consequent reduction of area in the fishery, comparison of current fishery trends with those from the past may be inappropriate and produce spurious information. These comparisons are no longer used directly.

In 2002, the blacklip abalone fishery was managed as three zones, each with a TAC (total allowable catch). The greenlip fishery was managed separately from the blacklip fishery, but also with a TAC. This assessment reviews the performance of each zone by assessing catch and catch-rate information at statistical block level, which is in turn interpreted using information gathered at sub-block level. The information used to assess performance is shown in this report in the form of charts, which deal either with catch and catch rates, or with the size-composition of divers catches. Statistical blocks are grouped by zone, then the chart for each block and sub-block is presented in numerical order.

We have included an explanation of how the charts should be read (Section 1.1). Some charts, particularly in the areas with the greatest level of catch, also include comments about aspects of the fishery. A summary of the information contained in the charts is presented at the end of each zone’s section. These summaries were prepared from both the interpretation of these charts and through the specialised knowledge of a number of individuals from within the fishery, including the industry and government representatives of the Abalone Stock Assessment Group (AbSAG).

The Discussion section reviews the performance of each fishery (zone), and discusses the range of options open to fishery managers. Finally, the report concludes with a list of recommendations to managers.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 1 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

This report also contains appendices including the total annual catch by block, by zone. Another appendix contains charts of catch, effort and catch per unit effort for the entire history of the fishery. The information from this appendix is not used in the preparation of this assessment.

1.1 Interpreting graphical information:

Figure 1 shows catch (left y-axis) and catch rate (right y-axis) for the last 10 years for a statistical block.

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 600 100 90 500 80 400 70 60 300 50 40 200 30 20 Catch (tonnes) 100 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Figure 1. Example ten-year catch and catch rate, by block. Catch rates (geometric means – see below) are shown as a line with blobs marking every year. Catch data (tonnes) is shown as vertical columns.

Catch rates are expressed as geometric mean catch rates rather than arithmetic means because abalone catch rates do not tend to follow statistical normal distributions and using the geometric mean avoids biasing the estimated catch rates for all divers combined. Catch data are presented only for a ten year period because we believe divers have been fishing in much the same way for the last ten years, and therefore changes in catch rate are due to changes in abundance of abalone, not because the divers have altered the way they fish (by changes in the use of droplines, GPS, boats, equipment etc).

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 (i.e. shows catch and catch rate by block), but it also includes greenlip catch (white columns) as well as grey columns (blacklip catch). Note that to make the greenlip catch more easily distinguished, in some cases the greenlip columns have been bold outlined and the blacklip columns lightened.

Because of operational changes in the fishery, there are three sorts of catch rate in Figure 2:

• The catch rates between 1993 and 1999 are all the same type: lines with grey balls marking each year. These show the catch rate for catching both species of abalone. Because zoning was only introduced in 2000, prior to this, divers did not distinguish between time spent catching blacklip and time spent catching greenlip, meaning catch rates for each species could not be separated.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 2 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

• Between 2000 and 2002, the catch rates are shown as two separate lines with black balls for blacklip and white balls for greenlip.

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 20 90 18

80 ) 16 70 14 60 pue

12 (c 50 10 te 40 8 6 30 h-ra 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 2 10 Ca 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

Figure 2. Example ten-year catch and catch rate – blacklip and greenlip.

Figure 3 shows catch and catch rates for the last three years for sub-blocks. Because sub-blocks have only existed since 2000, we cannot show catches (or catch rates) to sub-block level before then. While these charts generally have been limited to sub- blocks supplying 10 or more tonnes during any of the last three years, some sub-blocks with annual catches less than 10 tonnes are included if they are of particular interest.

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 80 25 70 20 60 50 15 40 10 30

Catch (tonnes) 20 5 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

Figure 3. Example catch and catch rate at sub-block level.

Also included are monthly catch rate and catch charts at sub-block level (Figure 4, Figure 5). These are useful to compare catch rates at the time of year when the fishery was most productive, and potentially, large numbers of divers participated. They help to reduce the diver effect (i.e. when catches are small and infrequent, catch rates changes may reflect the abilities of individual divers rather than abalone abundance), and to allow for months where bad weather affected catches. They also help explain some of the changes in annual catch rates

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 3 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 90 2001

80 2002

70

60

50

40

30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

10

0 l r y n n Ju Apr Oct Ja Ju Feb Ma Aug Sep Nov Dec Ma Month

Figure 4. Example monthly catch rate, 2002 to 2002, at sub-block level.

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 7 2001 2002 6

5

4

3

Catch (tonnes) 2

1

0 r g p Jul Ap Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

Figure 5. Example monthly catch (tonnes) 2000 to 2002 at sub-block level.

The catch charts (Figure 5) should be used in conjunction with the catch rate (Figure 4) charts so that comparisons are made across years with similar levels of catch.

Size-composition charts.

The size-composition of divers’ catches is reviewed at sub-block level. At this spatial scale, there is a greater likelihood that the catches come from populations with similar growth characteristics than at larger scales. Unless the size-composition of catches from a sub-block is of particular interest, only sub-blocks with samples taken regularly throughout the year are included.

The size-composition charts contain a number of diagrams like the one below (Figure 6). They indicate the size structure of abalone catches being landed by divers.

The numbers on the left hand-side (y-axis) of the chart (0, 10, 20, 30) are levels of percentage. The numbers along the bottom (x-axis) of the chart are the size-classes into which the abalone have been grouped. The abalone are grouped into 5mm size classes

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 4 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

(e.g. 131 – 135mm, 136 – 140mm, etc), although there is only room to label every second size group. In the first size-class indicated by 130, all the abalone smaller and including 130 mm are grouped. It is a small size-class, only about 2 or 3 percent. The next size-class includes abalone that measure 131 to 135 mm (these abalone were caught at 132-mm size limit). In the example below, about 27% of the sample is in this size-class. The next size-class is between 136 and 140 mm, with just over 20% of the sample. As we move from left to right across the graph, the numbers of larger abalone dwindle, with only 1 or 2 abalone recorded in the 186 to 190 mm size-class.

30 105 7, 1 0 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Figure 6. Example size-composition of a sample of abalone taken from a number of divers catches from a 132mm size limit zone.

The numbers in the top right hand corner show firstly the number of abalone that were measured to make up this chart (1057), and the number of divers catches that were sampled (10). Usually, approximately 100 abalone are measured from each diver’s catch.

Each of these charts is arranged by month and year, and shown by sub-block (see Figure 7, over page). For some blocks samples were obtained for nearly every month, whereas for less fished blocks samples may only have been obtained on one or two occasions.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 5 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 13E (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 2 47, 18 30 30 68 5, 7 19 2, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 January

39 7, 4 30 70, 4 30 2 88, 17 30 97, 1 30 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Fe bruary 0 0 0 0

30 58, 4 30 57 , 3 30 9 75, 10 20 20 20 10 10 10 March 0 0 0

30 668 , 3 9 30 14 1, 6 30 22 0, 2 30 87, 1 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 April 0 0 0 0

30 190 , 1 0 30 69, 3 30 53 7, 5 30 31 6, 3 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 May 0 0 0 0

30 6 74, 45 30 71 7, 7 30 19 6, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 June 0 0 0

30 30 134 1, 1 2 30 49 3, 5 77, 6 20 20 20 10 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0

30 585 , 3 5 30 1 84, 14 30 97, 1 30 66 6, 7 Pe 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 August 0 0 0 0

30 285 , 1 7 30 10 3, 1 20 20 10 10 September 0 0

30 136, 6 30 4 21, 11 30 105 7, 1 0 20 20 20 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 92, 5 30 31 4, 3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 19 8, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 November 0 0 0

30 247 , 1 7 30 91 7, 9 30 40 5, 4 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

Figure 7. Example size-composition chart of the commercial catch of abalone taken from sub-block 13E, arranged by year and month. The current size limit is indicated at the top of the page. The size limit between 1999 and 2001 inclusive was 132mm.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 6 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2. Landed Catches, 2002

At the end of 2002, annual landings comprised 2396.6 tonnes of blacklip and 139.9 tonnes of greenlip (Table 1). The Eastern Zone TAC was reduced from 1120 tonnes to 857.5 tonnes in 2002. Table 1. 2002 landings by zone, in tonnes Zone 2002 TAC 2002 Landings Greenlip 140.0 139.905 Eastern Blacklip 857.5 856.671 Northern Blacklip 280.0 280.008 Western Blacklip 1260.0 1259.886

Figure 8 shows the location of the zones and statistical blocks from which the 2002 commercial catch information was reported.

1 2 37 Northern Zone 38 3 4 35 34 36 49 4847 32 33 40 39 5 31 30 6

29 Eastern Zone 7 28 8 26 27 9 25 24 10 18 23 19 15 17 22 11 14 16 20 21 Western Zone 12 13

Figure 8. Statistical blocks and zones used in the Tasmanian abalone fishery in 2002. Zones and zone boundaries may change from year to year. Zone boundaries are shown as dotted lines. The Greenlip fishery is not spatially fixed, but mostly takes place on coasts included in the Northern Zone.

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3. Eastern Zone Blacklip

3.1 Eastern Zone blacklip fishery – major fishing blocks

The Eastern Zone TAC was approximately three quarters of that of the previous year (857.5 tonnes, compared with 1120 tonnes in 2001), so the annual catch in most blocks could be expected to be smaller. The 2002 catch from Block 24, one of the most productive East Coast blocks, was greatly reduced. Blocks 27 and 31, recently the best performing East Coast block reported lower catches than expected, as did Blocks 14 and 16 in the South East. Blocks around the Tasman Peninsula (20, 21 and 22), and Block 13 (sub-blocks C, D and E) had higher catches than might be expected given the TAC reduction (Figure 9).

400 13 200

150

125 nes) n

o 100 14 (t h c t a C 75 16

2002 20 21 27 50 24 22 31

25 17 29 30 23 28 0 251915 26 0 0 5 0 0 0 25 50 75 10 12 15 20 40 2001 Catch (tonnes) Figure 9. The change in catch between 2001 and 2002 in blacklip catch from the Eastern Zone (Block 13 (sub-blocks 13 C, D, E), Blocks 14 to 30, and Block 31 (sub-block 31 A and part of sub-block 31B). The diagonal line across the chart shows the position where catches from the Eastern Zone in 2002 should lie, given that the catch in this zone was reduced from 1120 to 857.5 tonnes in 2002. Note that the scale changes between 150 and 200 tonnes to show blocks with smaller catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 8 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.2 Block 13 (Actaeons)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Because part of this block is in the 600 100 Western Zone, and it has only been 90 500 80 possible to distinguish catches from 400 70 60 either zone since 2000, the 10-year 300 50 40 chart below includes Western Zone 200 30 20 catch from sub-blocks 13A and Catch (tonnes) 100 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 13B. These sub-blocks are discussed separately in the Western 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year Zone section. blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

• The annual catch in the Eastern Zone part of this block (sub-blocks C, D and E) fell from 324 tonnes in 2001 to 297 tonnes in 2002 (the increased 2002 catch in the histogram above is due to larger annual catches in the Western Zone sub-blocks).

• The catch from the Block 13 Eastern Zone sub-blocks was capped at 350 tonnes in 2002. The cap was never reached, probably because there were ample fishing opportunities in other parts of the Eastern Zone due to the reduced zonal TAC.

• Catch rates were generally lower in all three sub-blocks in 2002 than in 2001.

• There was a significant change (P < 0.0001) in the mean size of abalone landed from Block 13E compared with the previous year, up by almost 3 mm from 141.7 (1.0) mm to 144.3 (1.0) mm. Using the length-weight relationship with parameters derived from abalone caught in sub-block 13E weight = 5.60E-05 * length ^ 3.2193 this means that the mean weight of abalone is now 501 g, up 28 g from the previous year. This weight increase is most likely due to the increase in minimum legal size from 132 mm to 136 mm.

• The size composition of samples taken from sub-block 13E shows that in most months, more than 30% of the catch was between 136 and 140 mm length i.e. the first legal size-class (the smaller size classes shown usually contain abalone of legal size, but with chipped or broken shells). That such a high proportion of the catch falls within this size range implies high rates of fishing mortality. The size composition of abalone from sub-blocks 13C and D (particularly the later months) shows that abalone caught there generally grow to a larger size prior to capture. This means that the increase in the legal size limit is actually having the sought after effect.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 9 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.2.1 Sub-block 13C Fishers Point to Whale Head

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 The 2002 annual catch was 70 70 approximately twice that of past 60 60 years. 50 50 40 40 30 30

Catch (tonnes) 20 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 10 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Abalone in this sub-block are 120 2001 2002 relatively large, so size limit 100 increase had little effect upon catch 80 rates early in 2002.

60

40 Catch rates fell slightly in Feb 2002 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 following high levels of catch in

0 January. b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Missing catches in September and 18 2001 2002 November-December 2001 reflect 16 14 fishery closures. 12 10 8 6 Catch (tonnes) 4 2 0 r y v c Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Feb Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.2.2 Sub-block 13D Fishers Point to Southport Lagoon Beach, including Recherche Bay

120 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 The annual catch is substantially 70 100 lower than in previous years.

) 60 s 80 50 60 40

h (tonne 30 tc 40

Ca 20 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 10 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) A comparison of monthly catch 100 2001 90 2002 rates (although missing for some 80 months in late 2001) shows that

hr) 70 60 catch rates in 2002 are lower than 50 both the previous years. 40 30 Catch-rate (kg/ 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Although the size-limit increase was 20 2001 18 2002 probably partly responsible for 16 reduced catch rates in the early part )

s 14 12 of the year, in the last six months the 10

h (tonne catch rates failed to recover to

tc 8

Ca 6 former levels (low stock levels? 4 novice divers?). 2 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.2.3 Sub-block 13E Actaeon and Sterile Islands, and reefs to the south (the Breaks)

300 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 The annual catch has declined 70 250 during the past two years.

60 hr)

200 g/ 50 (k

150 40 te

30 h-ra 100 tc

Catch (tonnes) 20 50 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) A comparison of monthly catch 90 2001

80 2002 rates (although missing for some 70 months in late 2001) shows that 60 g/hr) catch rates in 2002 are substantially

(k 50 te 40 lower than both the previous years. h-ra

tc 30 Ca 20 Although the size-limit increase was 10

0 probably partly responsible for b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May reduced catch rates in the early part Month of the year, in the last six months the catch rates failed to recover.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 11 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2002 catches fell to lower levels 60 2001 2002 after July. 50 ) s 40

30 h (tonne tc 20 Ca

10

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.3 Block 14 (Lower Channel, south Bruny Island and the Friars)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch and catch rates fell in 2002. 300 80 The 2002 catch was low, perhaps 70 250 60 reflecting the reduced TAC rather 200 50 than falling stock levels, although 150 40 30 note that catch rates have now fallen 100 20 for the last three years, and are well Catch (tonnes) 50

10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 below the levels of the period 1995 to 2000. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.3.1 Sub-block 14A Southport Lagoon Beach to Burnett Point

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 Although the 2002 catch was 35 70 reduced substantially from earlier

) 30 60 s levels (less than 50 % of 2001, 75% 25 50 20 40 of 2000), catch rates are still lower h (tonne 15 30 tc than previous years.

Ca 10 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) During winter, monthly mean catch 120 2001 2002 rates are lower than those form 100 earlier years. 80 g/hr) (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 12 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2002 catches are more moderate 7 2001 2002 than in 2001, when the Block 13 6 closures forced divers elsewhere. 5

4

3

Catch (tonnes) 2

1

0 Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

3.3.2 Sub-block 14B Burnett Point to Blubber Head

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 There has been some decrease in 16 60 annual catch (about 15% in both

) 14

s 50 12 g/hr) 2001 and 2002) since 2000, which

10 40 (k te could be expected to have a positive 8

h (tonne 30 h-ra tc 6 20 tc effect upon catch rates; however, Ca 4 Ca 2 10 this was not the case. 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch rates from Jan to 120 2001 2002 May were reduced compared with 100 2001 (size-limit effect?), but 80 g/hr) generally matched those of 2001 (k te 60 over the last seven months. h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Note that highest catches occur in 6 2001 2002 September for each of the three 5 years – it is not known why this 4 should be so. 3

2 Catch (tonnes)

1

0 Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 13 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.3.3 Sub-block 14D Hopwood Point to West Cloudy Head

35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 The 2002 catch was two thirds of 30 60 that of the previous year, which may )

s 25 50

g/hr) have helped lift catch rates

20 40 (k

te marginally.

h (tonne 15 30 h-ra tc

10 20 tc Ca 5 10 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch rates are very similar 80 2001 2002 to those from 2001. 70

60

g/hr) 50 (k

te 40

h-ra 30 tc

Ca 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Large catches at the end of 2001 10 2001 9 2002 reflect the Block 13 closure. 8 )

s 7 6 5 h (tonne

tc 4

Ca 3 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.3.4 Sub-block 14E West Cloudy Head to Boreel Head, including the Friars

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 It is assumed that these catches 70 80 came from sub-block 14E and not

) 60 70 s

60 g/hr) the Western Zone. Because there is 50 50 (k 40 te anecdotal information that some 40 h (tonne

30 h-ra tc 30

tc catches attributed to this sub-block Ca 20 20 Ca 10 10 were caught elsewhere, these figures 0 0 may be unreliable. 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 14 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Relatively high catch rates early in 120 2001 2002 the year (contrasting with the 100 Actaeons catch rates) reflect larger- 80 g/hr) sized abalone (see size composition (k te 60 charts) and a fishery unaffected by h-ra

tc 40 the size-limit increase. Catch rates Ca 20 fell later in the year in the face of

0 only moderate fishing pressure (low b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May stock levels? unsuitable diving Month conditions? novice divers?).

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Large catches at the end of 2001 25 2001 2002 reflect the Block 13 closure, and 20 catches of large-sized abalone ) s

15 attributed to this sub-block. h (tonne

tc 10 Ca

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.4 Block 15 (D’Entrecasteaux Channel)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block contains only a small 12 100 area of abalone habitat and does not 90 10 80 regularly contribute to the fishery. 8 70 60 6 50 40 4 tch (tonnes) 30 a 20 C 2 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.5 Block 16 (eastern side of Bruny Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch and catch rates fell in 2002. 140 90 Note that catches are at low levels, 120 80 70 and catch rates have declined 100 60 80 50 steadily since the 1998 peak. 60 40 30 tch (tonnes) 40 a 20 C 20 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 15 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.5.1 Sub-block 16A Boreel Head to North Mangana Bluff

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 Like sub-block 14E (particularly the 35 80 Friars), abalone from the eastern 70

30 hr)

60 g/ shore of south Bruny are typically 25 50 (k 20 te large and this, combined with low 40

15 h-ra 30 levels of catch helped ensure tc Catch (tonnes) 10 20 Ca 5 10 relatively high catch rates early in 0 0 2002. However, moderate levels of 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue catch and falling catch rates later in the year suggest low stock levels.

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates from months with 160 2001 2002 significant tonnages are generally 140

120 lower than corresponding months

g/hr) 100 from the previous year. (k

te 80

h-ra 60 tc

Ca 40

20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) As with other nearby sub-blocks, 9 2001 2002 high levels of catch in 2001 were a 8 7 result of diversion of effort away ) s 6 from the Eastern Zone part of Block 5

h (tonne 4 13. tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.5.2 Sub-block 16B North Mangana Bluff to Neck Beach

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 The 2002 catch was less than half 70 50 that of the previous year, and falling

60 hr)

40 g/ catch rates suggest low stock levels. 50 (k

30 40 te

30 h-ra 20 tc

Catch (tonnes) 20 10 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 16 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) While tonnages per month were 100 2001 90 2002 generally small, monthly catch rates, 80 particularly over winter, were much 70 g/hr) 60 lower than those from 2001, which, (k te 50 in turn were generally lower than 40 h-ra

tc 30 those of the year before. Ca 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 10 2001 9 2002 8 )

s 7 6 5 h (tonne

tc 4

Ca 3 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.5.3 Sub-block 16C Neck Beach to Trumpeter Bay

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Although there has been a steady 16 60 reduction in catch since 2000, catch 14 50 hr) 12 g/ rates do not indicate any stock

10 40 (k te recovery. 8 30 6 h-ra 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 Ca 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 black tonnes Year black cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80 g/hr) (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 17 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 3.5 2001 2002 3.0 )

s 2.5

2.0

h (tonne 1.5 tc

Ca 1.0

0.5

0.0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.5.4 Sub-block 16D Trumpeter Bay to Dennes Point

14 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 In 2002, there was a 10% increase in 12 catch, but catch rates fell by more

) 60 s 10

g/hr) than 25%.

8 (k

40 te

h (tonne 6 h-ra tc

4 tc Ca 20 2 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 100 2001 90 2002 80 70 g/hr) 60 (k

te 50 40 h-ra

tc 30 Ca 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 6 2001 2002 5 ) s 4

3 h (tonne tc 2 Ca

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 18 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.6 Block 17 (South Arm to Cremorne, Blackjack shoreline to Outer North Head)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches and catch rates have fallen 50 80 to low levels. 45 70 ) 40 60 35 30 50

25 40 te (kg/hr a 20 30 15 20 10 Catch (tonnes)

5 10 Catch-r 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.6.1 Sub-block 17B Blackjack shoreline from Lobster Point to Outer North Head

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 70 25

60 hr)

20 g/ 50 (k

15 40 te

30 h-ra 10 tc

Catch (tonnes) 20 5 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) While the annual catch rate 120 2001 2002 continues to fall, monthly catch rates 100 generally match those of 2001, 80 g/hr) particularly during the cooler (k te 60 months when the comparison is h-ra

tc 40 most valid. Note that monthly Ca 20 landings are small (~ 1.25 tonnes per

0 month). The fall in annual catch b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May rates may just reflect patchy Month sampling from within the sub-block.

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 9 2001 2002 8 7 ) s 6 5

h (tonne 4 tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 19 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.7 Block 18 (Derwent River, Iron Pot)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block contains marginal 5 100 abalone habitat, and is not an

90 ) 4 80 important part of the fishery. 70 3 60

50 te (kg/hr 2 40 a 30 1 20 Catch (tonnes)

10 Catch-r 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.8 Block 19 (Northern Frederick Henry Bay)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block contains marginal 6 80 abalone habitat, and is not an 70 ) 5 60 important part of the fishery. 4 50 Nevertheless, like most blocks in the

3 40 te (kg/hr a 30 Eastern Zone, catches and catch 2 20

Catch (tonnes) 1 rates are at low levels.

10 Catch-r 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.9 Block 20 (western side of Tasman Peninsula)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates for the last two years 120 80 were approximately two thirds of 70 ) 100 60 those for the eight years 1993-2000, 80 50 and the annual catch during the past

60 40 te (kg/hr a 30 three years has been low. This 40 20

Catch (tonnes) 20 implies that while stock levels are

10 Catch-r 0 0 low, they appear to be stable. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 20 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.9.1 Sub-block 20A Outer North Head to White Beach

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 The 2002 catch is now slightly more 60 than half of the 2000 catch. 20 50 hr) g/

15 40 (k te 10 30 h-ra

20 tc Catch (tonnes)

5 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) The size of 2002 monthly landings 90 2001

80 2002 fluctuated, and prior to April, catch 70 rates should be disregarded. Catch 60 g/hr) rates from months where landings

(k 50 te 40 are highest (April-November) h-ra

tc 30 generally matched those of previous Ca 20 years. 10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 4 2001 2002

) 3 s

2 h (tonne tc Ca 1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.9.2 Sub-block 20B White Beach to Salters Point

35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Note that since 2000, annual catches 30 60 have increased and catch rates have

25 50 hr)

g/ fallen.

20 40 (k te 15 30 h-ra

10 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 5 10 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 21 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) During the months when levels of 90 2001

80 2002 catch were highest (April to July), 70 2002 catch rates were lower than the 60 g/hr) two previous years.

(k 50 te 40 h-ra

tc 30

Ca 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Because winter catches were higher 7 2001 2002 than both 2000 and 2001, lower 6 catch rates may reflect increased ) s 5 effort in these months, and not 4

h (tonne necessarily falling stock levels. 3 tc

Ca 2

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.9.3 Sub-block 20C Salters Point to Cape Raoul

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 80 20 70 hr)

60 g/

15 (k 50 te 40 10 30 h-ra tc Catch (tonnes) 20 5 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catches and catch rates have 100 2001 90 2002 improved since 2001, particularly 80 towards the end of the year. 70 g/hr) 60 However, monthly landings are low, (k te 50 and in the latter part of 2002, 40 h-ra

tc 30 comprise mostly the catches of one Ca 20 or two divers. Differences between 10 0 catch rates between 2002 and the b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May previous years may be due more to Month differences between divers than improving stock levels.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 22 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 6 2001 2002 5 ) s 4

3 h (tonne tc 2 Ca

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.10 Block 21 (southern shore of Tasman Peninsula)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate The annual catch is at moderate 90 100 levels, with low catch rates. 80 90 70 80 60 70 60 50 50 40 40 30 tch (tonnes) 30 a 20 20 C

10 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.10.1 Sub-block 21A Cape Raoul to Port Arthur

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 80 25 70 hr)

20 60 g/

50 (k 15 te 40

10 30 h-ra tc Catch (tonnes) 20 5 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Early season catches in 2002 were 120 2001 2002 relatively large, and probably 100 suppress the annual catch rate. 80 g/hr) When catch rates are viewed (k te 60 monthly, they are not very different h-ra

tc 40 from those of the previous year. Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 23 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 7 2001 2002 6 )

s 5

4

h (tonne 3 tc

Ca 2

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.10.2 Sub-block 21C Port Arthur to Cape Pillar

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 There was little change in catch 35 70 rates between 2001 and 2002. Both

30 60 hr)

g/ are at reduced levels compared with 25 50 (k

20 40 te 2000, probably due to levels of

15 30 h-ra annual catch which increased each tc

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 Ca 5 10 year since then. 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80 g/hr) (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) The extraordinary catch in May 7 2001 2002 2002 was due to large landings from 6 several visiting divers who usually ) s 5 fish elsewhere. In November and 4

h (tonne December, local divers landed good 3 tc

Ca 2 catches.

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 24 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.11 Block 22 (east Tasman Peninsula)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches are at moderate levels, 80 80 catch rates appear to have stabilised, 70 70 60 60 albeit at low levels. 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 Catch (tonnes)

10 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.11.1 Sub-block 22A Cape Pillar to the Lanterns

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 Catch and catch rates for 2001 and 70 2002, while considerably lower than 20

60 hr)

g/ for 2000, are static. 50

15 (k

40 te 10

30 h-ra tc

Catch (tonnes) 20

5 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80 g/hr) (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 8 2001 2002 7

) 6 s 5 4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 25 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.11.2 Sub-block 22B The Lanterns to Eaglehawk Neck

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 . 35 60

30 50 hr) 25 g/ 40 (k

20 te 30

15 h-ra

20 tc Catch (tonnes) 10 Ca 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Among months when catches were 80 2001 2002 greatest (June-December), catch 70

60 rates fell compared with 2001. Both

g/hr) 50 years are well below 2000 (k

te 40

h-ra 30 tc

Ca 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 7 2001 2002 6

5

4

3

Catch (tonnes) 2

1

0 Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

3.12 Block 23 (Forestier Peninsula)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Low levels of catch, low catch rates. 60 80 70 50 60 40 50 30 40 30 20 tch (tonnes)

a 20

C 10

10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 26 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.12.1 Sub-block 23A Deep Glen Bay to Lagoon Bay

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Both 2001 and 2002 catch and catch 16 60 rates are similar, and show no sign 14 50 hr) 12 g/ of recovery to 2000 levels.

10 40 (k te 8 30 6 h-ra 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 Ca 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Although the June catch rate was 100 2001 90 2002 high, it represents just two landings, 80 and is atypical of catches from other 70 g/hr) 60 months. The July catch rate offers (k te 50 better representation. Occasionally, 40 h-ra

tc 30 good catches were landed from this Ca 20 sub-block at reasonable rates, 10 0 implying that fishable stocks are b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May very patchy. Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 5 2001 2002 4 ) s

3 h (tonne

tc 2 Ca

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.12.2 Sub-block 23B Lagoon Bay to Marion Bay

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 2002 catches are less than 15% of

25 the 2000 catch. As a consequence,

) 60 s

20 g/hr) the level of sampling is low, and (k

15 40 te catch-rate information should be h (tonne h-ra tc 10

tc used with caution.

Ca 20 5 Ca

0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 27 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates show no signs of 80 2001 2002 recovery to earlier levels. 70

60

g/hr) 50 (k

te 40

h-ra 30 tc

Ca 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 5 2001 2002 4 ) s

3 h (tonne

tc 2 Ca

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.13 Block 24 (Maria Island, western shore of Mercury Passage)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch and catch rates at low levels. 180 90 Catch samples show few small 160 80 140 70 abalone. 120 60 100 50 80 40 60 30 tch (tonnes)

a 40 20 C

20 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.13.1 Sub-block 24A western shore of Mercury Passage

14 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Catches have fallen to very low 12 60 levels.

10 50 hr) g/

8 40 (k te 6 30 h-ra

4 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 2 10 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 28 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 80 2001 2002 70

60

g/hr) 50 (k

te 40

h-ra 30 tc

Ca 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 3 2001 2002 ) s 2 h (tonne tc 1 Ca

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.13.2 Sub-block 24B western shore of Maria Island

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 The 2002 catch is less than one third

25 60 of that of previous years, and catch

50 hr) 20 g/ rates show no sign of recovery.

40 (k

15 te 30 10 h-ra 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 5 10 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80 g/hr) (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 29 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 8 2001 2002 7

) 6 s 5 4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.13.3 Sub-block 24C Spring Bay

14 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 60 The annual catch is 25-30% of

12 50 previous years, with low catch rates.

10 hr) 40 g/

8 (k

30 te 6 20 h-ra 4 tc Catch (tonnes) 2 10 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 80 2001 2002 70

60

50

40

30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

10

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 3 2001 2002 ) s 2 h (tonne tc 1 Ca

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 30 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.13.4 Sub-block 24D north-east side of Maria Island

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 Usually one of the most productive 80 50 parts of the fishery at Maria Island, 70 hr)

40 60 g/ the 2002 annual catch was less than

50 (k 30 te 30% of the 2001 catch, with catch 40 20 30 h-ra rates failing to improve. tc Catch (tonnes) 20 10 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 100 2001 90 2002 80 70 g/hr) 60 (k

te 50 40 h-ra

tc 30 Ca 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 9 2001 2002 8 7 ) s 6 5

h (tonne 4 tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.13.5 Sub-block 24E south-east side of Maria Island

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Catch and catch rates increased in 16 60 2002, which is consistent with a 14 50 hr) 12 g/ recovery of stocks.

10 40 (k te 8 30 6 h-ra In contrast to previous years, this 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 Ca sub-block is performing much better 2 10 0 0 than the other sub-blocks in Block 2000 2001 2002 24 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 31 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates for the period July- 120 2001 2002 October (when levels of sampling 100 are greatest) are generally similar 80 g/hr) during the three year period. (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) There were high levels of catch in 8 2001 2002 July 2002. 7

) 6 s 5 4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

3.14 Block 25 (East Coast)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block, although once 3 140 productive, no longer contributes to 120 the fishery. 100 2 80 60 1 tch (tonnes) 40 a

C 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.15 Block 26 (East Coast)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Much of the coastline of this block 30 120 is beach. The headlands and reefs, 25 100 periodically produce good catches, 20 80 but many years of low catches 15 60 indicate that the area recovers 10 40 tch (tonnes) a slowly from fishing. 2002 catch C 5 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 rates indicate that stocks were at low levels. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 32 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.16 Block 27 (Eastern side of Freycinet Peninsula, Schouten Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Even if the record catches from 200 100 1997 and 1998 are disregarded, the 180 90 160 80 2002 catch was very low. Catch 140 70 120 60 rates give no indication of recovery. 100 50 80 40 60 30 40 20 Many divers visited the block in Catch (tonnes)

20 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 July, but went elsewhere after that. This should have given remaining 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year stocks some respite. blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.16.1 Sub-block 27A south side of Schouten Island

12 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 70 10

60 hr)

8 g/ 50 (k

6 40 te

30 h-ra 4 tc

Catch (tonnes) 20 2 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates during the period of 120 2001 2002 greatest catches (May-October) 100 were generally below those of 2001, 80 g/hr) and well below those of 2000. (k

te 60 h-ra

tc 40 Ca 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Catches increased in 2002 8 2001 2002 (particularly in July). 7

) 6 s 5 4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Fe Ma Aug Sep No De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 33 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.16.2 Sub-block 27B east side of Schouten Island

10 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 9 80 8 70 7 hr) 60 g/

6 (k 50 5 te 40 4 30 h-ra 3 tc Catch (tonnes) 20 2 Ca 1 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates during the months of 140 2001 2002 greatest activity are generally below 120 those of 2001, and well below those 100

g/hr) of 2000.

(k 80 te 60 h-ra tc 40 Ca

20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 5 2001 2002

4 ) s 3 h (tonne

tc 2 Ca

1

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

3.16.3 Sub-block 27C Schouten Passage to Wineglass Bay

45 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 The annual catch has fallen sharply 40 90 compared with that of previous 35 80 70 hr) 30 g/ years. During months of significant

60 (k 25 50 te catches, catch rates are also lower. 20 40 15 h-ra 30 tc Catch (tonnes) 10 20 Ca 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 34 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 10 2001 9 2002 8 )

s 7 6 5 h (tonne

tc 4

Ca 3 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

3.16.4 Sub-block 27D Wineglass Bay to the Friendly Beaches

45 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 40 80 35 70 hr)

30 60 g/

25 50 (k te 20 40

15 30 h-ra tc Catch (tonnes) 10 20 Ca 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Although early (July-June) catch 120 2001 2002 rates were lower, during spring, 100 catch rates were similar to those of 80 2001. The 2002 catch was less than 60 that of previous years.

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 35 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 9 2001 2002 8 7 ) s 6 5

h (tonne 4 tc

Ca 3 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

3.17 Block 28 (Friendly Beaches to Seymour, including Bicheno)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate The annual catch is now at low 90 100 levels, and catch rates continue to 80 90 70 80 fall. 60 70 60 50 50 40 40 30 tch (tonnes) 30 a 20 tch-rate (kg/hr)

20 a C

10 10 C 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3.18 Block 29 (Seymour to St Helens Point)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Sub-block 29 D is the remaining 35 100 productive part of this block. All 90 30 80 other sub-blocks now produce 25 70 20 60 insignificant catches. 50 15 40

tch (tonnes) 10 30 a 20 C 5 10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 36 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.18.1 Sub-block 29D Scamander to St Helens Point, including St Helens Island

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 Catches and catch rates are lower 16 70 than previous years. 14

60 hr)

12 g/ 50 10 (k 40 te 8

30 h-ra 6 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 20 Ca 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 100 2001 90 2002 80 70 60 50 40 30 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 8 2001 2002 7

6

5

4

3 Catch (tonnes) 2

1

0 t Jul Apr Oc Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

3.19 Block 30 (St Helens Point to Eddystone Point)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Stable catches (at historically low 30 80 levels), falling catch rates. 70 25 60 20 50 15 40 30 10 tch (tonnes)

a 20

C 5

10 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 37 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.19.1 Sub-block 30A St Helens Point to Taylor’s Beach, including Binalong Bay

9 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 70 Catch rates during the most active 8 60 period (June-October) in 2002 are 7 50 hr) 6 g/ much lower than previous years.

5 40 (k te 4 30 3 h-ra 20 tc Catch (tonnes) 2 Ca 1 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 100 2001 90 2002 80 70 60 50 40 30 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10 0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 3 2001 2002

2

Catch (tonnes) 1

0 t Jul Apr Oc Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

3.20 Block 31 (Eddystone to Musselroe Bay)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate The blacklip portion of this chart 100 100 90 90 includes Northern Zone catch. 80 80 70 70 Notable features include falling 60 60 catches, falling catch rates. 50 50 40 40

tch (tonnes) 30 30 a

C 20 20 10 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 38 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.20.1 Sub-block 31A Eddystone Point to Cape Naturaliste

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 During the early months of 2002, 70 90 catch rates were very low and most 80

60 hr) 70 g/ likely reflect high levels of fishing 50

60 (k

40 50 te mortality the previous year coupled 40 30 h-ra with the effects of the size limit 30 tc

Catch (tonnes) 20 20 Ca increase. Later in the year, catch 10 10 0 0 rates improved, but not to former 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue levels. Because abalone here are thought to be smaller than those from further south, the increased size limit may potentially reduce the yield from this sub-block. However, see sub-block 31B (Northern Zone) which was unaffected by the size limit increase and performed in a remarkably similar manner.

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 120 2001 2002 100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 16 2001 2002 14

12

10

8

6 Catch (tonnes) 4

2

0 t Jul Apr Oc Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 39 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 13D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 3 97, 26 30 73 6, 6 30 28 4, 3 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 January

30 70, 4 30 42, 3 30 19 7, 2 30 18 5, 2 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Fe bruary 0 0 0 0

30 19, 1 30 10 7, 1 20 20 10 10 March 0 0

30 49, 2 30 70, 3 30 11 9, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 April 0 0 0

30 153 , 1 0 30 11 9, 6 30 55 1, 5 20 20 20 10 10 10 May 0 0 0

30 43, 2 30 29 8, 3 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

30 1 43, 11 30 54 4, 5 30 19 5, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0

30 154, 8 30 2 15, 16 30 7 55, 18 Pe 20 20 20 10 10 10 August 0 0 0

30 158, 8 20 10 September 0

30 155, 7 30 17 5, 6 30 66 3, 6 30 30 7, 3 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 280 , 1 8 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 38 8, 4 20 20 10 10 November 0 0

30 210 , 1 2 30 11 7, 1 30 38 8, 4 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Catches from later in 2002 show a modal shift to the next largest size-class.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 40 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 13E (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 2 47, 18 30 30 68 5, 7 19 2, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 January

39 7, 4 30 70, 4 30 2 88, 17 30 97, 1 30 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Fe bruary 0 0 0 0

30 58, 4 30 57 , 3 30 9 75, 10 20 20 20 10 10 10 March 0 0 0

30 668 , 3 9 30 14 1, 6 30 22 0, 2 30 87, 1 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 April 0 0 0 0

30 190 , 1 0 30 69, 3 30 53 7, 5 30 31 6, 3 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 May 0 0 0 0

30 6 74, 45 30 71 7, 7 30 19 6, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 June 0 0 0

30 30 134 1, 1 2 30 49 3, 5 77, 6 20 20 20 10 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0

30 585 , 3 5 30 1 84, 14 30 97, 1 30 66 6, 7 Pe 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 August 0 0 0 0

30 285 , 1 7 30 10 3, 1 20 20 10 10 September 0 0

30 136, 6 30 4 21, 11 30 105 7, 1 0 20 20 20 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 92, 5 30 31 4, 3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 19 8, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 November 0 0 0

30 247 , 1 7 30 91 7, 9 30 40 5, 4 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Although mean size of landed abalone is larger since the introduction of the 136 mm size limit, fishing mortality is still high, and consequently, catch samples mostly comprise abalone in the smaller size classes.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 41 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 14A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 9, 1 20 10 0 January

30 90, 6 20 10 Fe bruary 0

March

30 22 1, 2 20 10 April 0

May

30 32 9, 3 30 10 7, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

30 11 0, 1 30 19 3, 2 20 20 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0

30 11 0, 1 30 11 6, 1 Pe 20 20 10 10 August 0 0

30 174 , 1 0 30 30 9, 3 20 20 10 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 19 5, 2 20 10 Octob er 0

30 19 6, 2 20 10 November 0

30 34 6, 3 30 21 1, 2 30 99, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) While few samples were obtained, they suggest that most abalone are now caught within 15 mm of reaching legal size, implying high rates of fishing mortality.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 42 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 14E (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 64, 7 20 10 0 January

30 90, 1 20 10 Fe bruary 0

30 38 4, 4 20 10 March 0

30 13 9, 1 20 10 April 0

30 17 1, 2 20 10 May 0

30 131, 8 30 10 7, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0 age (%) 30 87, 1 nt 20 e 10 c July r 0

30 21 6, 2 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 722 , 5 2 30 31 7, 3 20 20 10 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 10 1, 1 30 42 4, 4 30 10 4, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0

30 17 9, 2 30 30 8, 3 30 20 6, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 51 8, 5 30 10 0, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 43 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 16A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

30 27 5, 3 20 10 March 0

30 10 4, 4 20 10 April 0

30 19 8, 2 20 10 May 0

30 10 3, 1 20 10 June 0

30 29 8, 3 30 19 2, 2 20 20 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 Pe

August

30 31 6, 3 30 19 9, 2 20 20 10 10 September 0 0

30 77, 1 30 22 3, 2 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 53 6, 5 30 51 6, 5 20 20 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 20 7, 2 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Size composition data shows catches with contrasting size ranges (i.e. the March May and July samples featured predominately larger abalone, while other samples comprised smaller abalone)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 44 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 16B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 13 5, 1 20 10 0 January

Fe bruary

30 11 1, 1 30 10 4, 1 20 20 10 10 March 0 0

April

30 10 3, 1 20 10 May 0

30 10 1, 1 20 10 June 0

30 28 5, 3 20 10

centage (%) July

r 0

30 42 6, 4 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 83 3, 8 30 20 1, 2 20 20 10 10 September 0 0

30 43 0, 4 30 92, 1 30 10 3, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0

30 49 8, 5 20 10 November 0

30 43 1, 4 30 10 2, 1 30 43 0, 4 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Although larger abalone are well represented in catches, there appears to be increasing numbers of smaller abalone. Increasing levels of fishing mortality would explain this transition.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 45 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 16D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 79, 4 20 10 0 January

30 45, 2 20 10 Fe bruary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

March

April

May

30 30 7, 3 20 10 June 0

30 19 1, 2 20 10

centage (%) July

r 0 Pe

August

30 20 3, 2 20 10 September 0

30 11 0, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

November

30 58, 3 30 10 3, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Catch samples show that the about 50% of abalone are caught within 10 mm of the size limit. While abalone are reported to grow to smaller sizes here, the catch samples indicate that fishing mortality is relatively high.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 46 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 17B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 13 8, 1 20 10 0 January

30 28 6, 3 20 10 Fe bruary 0

March

April

May

30 21 2, 2 20 10 June 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

centage (%) July r

30 Pe 20 8, 2 20 10 August 0

30 10 4, 1 20 10 September 0

30 10 6, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

30 41 9, 4 20 10 November 0

30 10 8, 1 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Catch samples, while containing many smaller abalone show good representation from larger abalone.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 47 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 21A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 20 7, 2 20 10 0 January

Fe bruary

March

April

May

30 27 9, 3 30 10 5, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

30 11 7, 1 30 29 7, 3 20 20 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0

30 77, 1 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 10 6, 1 20 10 September 0

30 98, 5 30 20 6, 2 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 44 1, 4 30 30 4, 3 20 20 10 10 November 0 0

30 94, 1 30 11 9, 1 30 20 3, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) While smaller abalone are represented, Tasman Peninsula catches feature larger abalone, with modes several size classes above the legal size.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 48 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 22B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 30 3, 3 30 98, 1 20 20 10 10 0 0 January

30 57, 4 30 97, 1 20 20 10 10 Fe bruary 0 0

30 111 , 1 2 20 10 March 0

30 11 1, 1 20 10 April 0

30 36, 3 30 88, 6 30 11 3, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 May 0 0 0

30 95, 2 30 77 5, 7 30 29 0, 3 20 20 20 10 10 10 June 0 0 0

30 184, 7 30 34 6, 3 30 82, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0

30 21 7, 2 30 41 5, 4 Pe 20 20 10 10 August 0 0

30 47 4, 4 20 10 September 0

30 70, 4 30 19 3, 2 30 20 7, 2 20 20 20 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0

30 79, 4 30 82, 1 30 10 6, 1 30 20 4, 2 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 49 7, 5 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 20 5, 2 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Similar to sub-block 21A, smaller abalone are represented, but large abalone predominate.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 49 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 23A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 14 9, 4 20 10 0 January

Fe bruary

March

April

May

30 21 0, 2 30 10 9, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

age (%) 30 32 3, 3 30 30 1, 3

nt 20 20

e 10 10

c July

r 0 0

30 18 5, 2 30 10 4, 1 Pe 20 20 10 10 August 0 0

30 24 2, 2 20 10 September 0

30 29 4, 3 30 20 6, 2 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 21, 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 30 8, 3 30 10 5, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 November 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 19 7, 2 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 50 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 24D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 158, 8 30 11 3, 1 20 20 10 10 0 0 January

30 11 0, 1 20 10 Fe bruary 0

30 173 , 2 1 30 1 53, 11 20 20 10 10 March 0 0

April

30 22 6, 2 30 31 6, 3 20 20 10 10 May 0 0

30 99, 1 20 10 June 0

age (%) 30 10 5, 1 30 29 5, 3

nt 20 20

e 10 10

c July

r 0 0

30 97 8, 9 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 80 0, 8 30 19 2, 2 20 20 10 10 September 0 0

30 46, 3 30 31 5, 3 30 17 1, 2 30 18 8, 2 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0

30 18 3, 2 30 10 8, 1 30 10 4, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 November 0 0 0

30 96, 8 30 43 8, 4 30 53 9, 5 30 20 9, 2 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Small abalone are absent from samples taken from divers’ catches, particularly at the end of the year when seasonal growth should ensure greater representation.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 51 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 31A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

30 21 3, 2 30 30 3, 3 20 20 10 10 March 0 0

30 18 0, 6 20 10 April 0

30 30, 3 30 70 2, 7 20 20 10 10 May 0 0

30 10 8, 1 30 9, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

age (%) 30 59 4, 6

nt 20

e 10

c July

r 0

30 80 0, 8 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 28 8, 3 20 10 September 0

30 92, 1 30 10 0, 1 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0

30 11 4, 1 20 10 November 0

30 11 6, 1 30 23 7, 2 30 20 1, 1 20 20 20 10 10 10 December 0 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 52 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

3.21 Eastern Zone Summary

• In 2002, the Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, 13D, 13E) and South Bruny/Lower Channel (Block 14) accounted for almost half the Eastern Zone catch, with approximately another 25 percent taken from the remainder of Storm Bay east to Tasman Island (Blocks 16 to 21).

• Last year’s stock assessment noted that catch rates in the Eastern Zone had fallen sharply, and were part of a sustained fall from peaks in the mid- to late- 1990’s. It was concluded that there was a considerable reduction in fishable stock levels, that fishing mortality was too high, and levels of catch were unsustainable. In 2002, despite management attempts that included a TAC reduction from 1120 to 857.5 tonnes, plus a 4-mm size-limit increase, catch rates continued to decline from the low levels of 2001. This indicates that fishable stock levels have not yet recovered, or may even have declined further. While sustained catch-rate declines were apparent across the entire Eastern Zone, they appear more serious in some areas, particularly in blocks that have reliably yielded large quantities of abalone in recent years. It seems that restrictions placed on the fishery by managers at the start of the 2002 fishing year were insufficient to halt the decline.

• In the areas showing major decline in fishable stocks, catch rates have declined to levels probably lower than ever previously seen (note that improved catching methods confound long term comparisons). In particular, lower catch rates and catches were reported from the East Coast north of Lagoon Bay (Sub-block 23B), including most of Maria Island (Block 24), the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island (Block 27), and the coast from Bicheno to Eddystone Point (Blocks 28, 29, 30). In recent years, a few isolated populations of relatively high abundance have supported this part of the fishery. Now however, low catches and catch rates, and reported low abundance of undersized abalone imply that serial depletion of these populations has taken place. Samples of the commercial catch from parts of Maria Island show disproportionately low quantities of small abalone entering the fishery, which may indicate poor recruitment. By maintaining existing levels of fishing effort in these areas, stock recovery will at best be delayed.

• Conversely, in a few small areas, catch rates are relatively stable albeit at low levels. These areas include parts of southern and eastern Tasman Peninsula (Sub-blocks 20C, 21A, 21C and most of Block 22), and the southeast part of Maria Island (Sub-block 24E). It has been observed that growth rates south of Eaglehawk Neck are particularly fast (Nash, 1995), and consequently this area may have been sufficiently productive to sustain recent levels of fishing. Both the southeast part of Maria Island and the above mentioned Tasman Peninsula contain large areas of boulder habitat which increases cover for abalone, and makes it more difficult to fish populations to low levels of abundance.

• While catch rates at the Actaeons also were at historically low levels, this can partly be attributed to the increase in size limit, which will have reduced the amount of abalone available to be caught in the first 4 months of 2002. However, growth studies from abalone tagged at the Actaeons imply that

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 53 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

abalone that were previously of legal size should have reached the new size limit by winter. Because catch rates failed to reach the levels of earlier years, it can be inferred that the size of the fishable stock was smaller in 2002.

• Catches from the eastern side of Bruny Island, particularly south of the Neck (Sub-blocks 16A, 16B) were of concern. Effort here was particularly high in 2001 following the closure of Block 13, which adversely affected local populations and resulted in much lower catch rates in 2002. North of the Neck (Sub-blocks 16C, 16D), catch rates have fallen by a lesser amount.

• Much of the Actaeons (Block 13) catch is taken very close to the size limit, so the increase in minimum length has had more impact here than in many other parts of the Eastern Zone, where abalone are taken at larger sizes. This is illustrated by a significant increase (P<0.0001) in the mean size (2.6 mm) of abalone sampled from divers’ catches in Sub-block 13E. This size increase translates to an increase in weight of about 30 g per abalone, or 123 fewer abalone/tonne.

• At Block 31 (north of Eddystone Point), previous research has shown that abalone grow slower and to smaller sizes, and the increased size limit has possibly had a greater adverse affect on catch and catch rates here than anywhere else. Both annual catch and catch rates have fallen sharply from previous years. Local divers now report leaving many more abalone because they are below the size limit. However, they are not particularly concerned about the impact of the size limit on catch rates, because they believe that the remaining abalone ensure reliable catches in future.

• The size limit increase is not the only reason for reduced catches and catch rates in Block 31. The Northern Zone part of this block (most of sub-block 31B) where in 2002, size limits remained unchanged at 127 mm, also experienced catch rates that were lower than previous years. It is apparent therefore that the fishable stock levels here have fallen, in common with the rest of the East Coast.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 54 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4. Western Zone Blacklip

4.1 Western Zone blacklip fishery – major fishing blocks

Catches fell by nearly 20% in Block 12, but were compensated for by an increase from the Block 13 sub-blocks, where the annual catch doubled. Block 11 also recorded increased catches (Figure 10).

400

11

300

nnes) 12 o (t

h 200 c t a 9 C 6

10 2002

100 13

7

8 0 0 100 200 300 400

2001 Catch (tonnes)

Figure 10. Blacklip catch from the Western Zone (Block 5 to Block 13 (sub-blocks 13 A, B)). In 2002, the Western Zone TAC (1260 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2001 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 55 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.2 Block 6 (Arthur Beach to Italian River, including Sundown, Couta Rocks, Temma and Sandy Cape)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates have been falling 250 160 steadily for a number of years. The 140 200 120 2002 catch fell, but is still at 150 100 moderate to high levels. 80 100 60

40 tch-rate (kg/hr)

50 a Catch (tonnes)

20 C 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

4.2.1 Sub-block 6A Sundown to Temma

100 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 The annual catch is 60% of that of 90 140 2001. 80

120 hr) 70 100 g/

60 (k

50 80 te 40

60 h-ra

30 tc

Catch (tonnes) 40

20 Ca 10 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 180 2001

160 2002

140

120

100

80

60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40

20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2002 monthly catch rates are 25 2001 2002 generally similar to 2001, but below 20 those of 2000. ) s 15 h (tonne

tc 10 Ca

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 56 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.2.2 Sub-block 6B Temma Harbour to rocks north of Dawson River

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 Landings from this sub-block have 140 50 increased over those from previous

120 hr)

40 g/ years, reportedly as divers move 100 (k

30 80 te south from the more heavily fished

60 h-ra 20 (and depleted) sub-blocks further tc

Catch (tonnes) 40 10 Ca 20 north. 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch rates are generally 250 2001 2002 lower than in previous years, 200 although there was some recovery in

150 December 2002 when 16 tonnes was caught. 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 18 2001 2002 16 14 12 10 8

Catch (tonnes) 6 4 2 0 t Jul Apr Oc Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

4.2.3 Sub-block 6C Rocks north of the Dawson River to Sandy Cape Beach – Wild Wave River

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 There is a gradual decline in annual 140 50 catch and catch rates over recent

120 hr)

40 g/ years. 100 (k

30 80 te

60 h-ra 20 tc

Catch (tonnes) 40 10 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 57 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 250 2001 2002

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 25 2001 2002

20 ) s 15 h (tonne

tc 10 Ca

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.2.4 Sub-block 6D Wild Wave River to Italian River, including Sandy Cape

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 180 50 160 140 hr) 40 g/

120 (k

30 100 te 80 20 h-ra 60 tc Catch (tonnes) 10 40 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Generally, monthly catch rates have 250 2001 2002 fallen over the past two years.

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 58 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 25 2001 2002

20

15

10 Catch (tonnes)

5

0 t Jul Apr Oc Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

4.3 Block 7 (Italian River to Granville Harbour)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates are stable. In 2002, the 80 200 annual catch was moderate 70 180 160 60 compared with the 10 year range. 140 50 120 40 100 30 80 60 20 40 Catch (tonnes)

10 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

4.3.1 Sub-block 7A Italian River to the Pieman River, including Rupert Point

16 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Catch rates, while falling gradually 14 180 are still high and may not 160 ) 12 s 140 necessarily indicate stock reduction. 10 120 8 100

h (tonne 6 80 tc 60 Catches are too discontinuous to

Ca 4 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) provide information when broken 2 20 0 0 down to monthly level. 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 59 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.3.2 Sub-block 7B Pieman to Ahrberg Bay, including Conical Rocks

35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 While levels of catch fluctuate 180 30 between years, catch rates are 160 ) s 25 140 consistently high. 20 120 100

h (tonne 15 80 tc 10 60 Ca

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 5 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 250 2001 2002

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 9 2001 2002 8 7 ) s 6 5

h (tonne 4 tc

Ca 3 2 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.3.3 Sub-block 7C Ahrberg to Granville Harbour

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 220 Although the catch has fallen, catch 16 200 rates are stable at high levels. 180 14 160 hr) 12 140 g/ 10 120 (k

te Catches are too discontinuous to 8 100

6 80 h-ra provide information when broken 60 tc Catch (tonnes) 4 40 Ca down to monthly level. 2 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 60 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.4 Block 8 (Granville Harbour to Ocean Beach)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates are stable or increasing 40 250 slightly, catches tend to be lower in 35 200 30 recent years. 25 150 20 15 100 10 50 Catch (tonnes)

5 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

4.4.1 Sub-block 8A Granville to Tasman Bay

18 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 180 Although the catch has fallen, catch 16 160 rates are stable or increasing slightly 14 140 hr)

12 120 g/ at high levels.

10 100 (k te 8 80

6 60 h-ra Catches are too discontinuous to tc Catch (tonnes) 4 40 Ca provide information when broken 2 20 0 0 down to monthly level. 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.5 Block 9 (Ocean Beach to Point Hibbs)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches and catch rates in the most 250 250 distant (from Strahan) sub-block 200 200 (9C) are stable, and account for 150 150 most of the production from this

100 100 block. In the more accessible Sub- tch (tonnes) a tch-rate (kg/hr)

50 50 a block 9B, catch and catch rates are C C 0 0 falling, while Sub-block 9A now produces no significant catches. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 61 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.5.1 Sub-block 9B Cape Sorell to Gorge Point

140 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 180 This is the most accessible coast that 120 160 can be fished from Strahan. The 140 100 hr) 120 g/ annual catch has fallen

80 100 (k te considerably, and catch rates 60 80 60 h-ra continue to decline. This sub-block 40 tc Catch (tonnes) 40 Ca 20 20 appears to be increasingly by-passed 0 0 in favour of more remote sub-blocks 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 250 2001 2002

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 60 2001 2002 50 ) s 40

30 h (tonne tc

Ca 20

10

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.5.2 Sub-block 9C Gorge Point to Point Hibbs

140 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 The annual catch has increased 180 120 considerable since 2000 as divers 160 100 140 hr) g/ move further south to fish more

80 120 (k

100 te abundant stocks. 60 80 h-ra

40 60 tc Catch (tonnes)

40 Ca 20 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 62 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) During the more productive months, 250 2001 2002 catch rates are stable.

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 35 2001 2002 30 )

s 25

20

h (tonne 15 tc

Ca 10

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.6 Block 10 (Point Hibbs to Low Rocky Point)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates in Block 10 are at high 160 250 levels. Catches have increased by 140 200 120 more than 50% since the 100 150 introduction of zoning in 2000. 80 60 100 tch (tonnes)

a 40 50 Catches and catch rates fluctuate C

20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 between blocks, probably more in response to weather and sea 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year conditions and divers preferences blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue rather than changing abalone abundance.

4.6.1 Sub-block 10A Point Hibbs to Endeavour Bay

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 180 20 160 140 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to g/

15 120 (k

100 te provide information when broken 10 80 h-ra down to monthly level.

60 tc Catch (tonnes)

5 40 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 63 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.6.2 Sub-block 10B Endeavour Bay to High Rocky Point

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 35 180 160

30 hr) 140 Catches are too discontinuous to 25 g/

120 (k

20 100 te provide information when broken 80 15 h-ra down to monthly level.

60 tc

Catch (tonnes) 10

40 Ca 5 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.6.3 Sub-block 10C High Rocky Point to Mainwaring River

50 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 250 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 45 40 200 35 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to g/

30 150 (k

25 te provide information when broken 20 100 h-ra down to monthly level.

15 tc Catch (tonnes)

10 50 Ca 5 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.6.4 Sub-block 10D Mainwaring River to Low Rocky Point

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 250 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 70 200 60 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to 50 g/

150 (k

40 te provide information when broken 100 30 h-ra down to monthly level. tc

Catch (tonnes) 20

50 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 64 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.7 Block 11 (Low Rocky Point to Faults Bay, including Port Davey)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches in Block 11 are at their 400 180 highest level for many years. There 350 160 300 140 is some fluctuation in catch rates 120 250 100 between years at the sub-block 200 80 150 level, but overall catch rates are 60 100 40 stable or increasing slightly. Catch (tonnes)

50 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

4.7.1 Sub-block 11A Low Rocky Point to Elliott Point

140 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 180 120 160 100 140 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to g/

80 120 (k

100 te provide information when broken 60 80 h-ra down to monthly level. 40 60 tc Catch (tonnes)

40 Ca 20 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.7.2 Sub-block 11B Elliott Point to Svenor Gulches

90 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 80 180 70 160 140 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to 60 g/

120 (k 50 100 te provide information when broken 40 80 30 h-ra down to monthly level. 60 tc Catch (tonnes) 20 40 Ca 10 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 65 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.7.3 Sub-block 11C Svenor Gulches to Point St Vincent

140 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 180 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 120 160 140 100 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to 120 g/

80 100 (k

te provide information when broken 60 80 60 h-ra down to monthly level. 40 tc Catch (tonnes) 40 Ca 20 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.7.4 Sub-block 11D Hilliard Head to Faults Bay

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 180 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 160 25 140 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to 20 120 g/

100 (k 15 te provide information when broken 80

10 60 h-ra down to monthly level. tc Catch (tonnes) 40 5 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

4.7.5 Sub-block 11E Point St Vincent to Hilliard Head, including Port Davey

40 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 180 Catches and catch rates fluctuate. 35 160 140 30 hr) Catches are too discontinuous to 120 g/ 25 100 (k 20 te provide information when broken 80

15 h-ra 60 down to monthly level. tc Catch (tonnes) 10 40 Ca 5 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 66 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.8 Block 12 (Faults Bay to Prion Beach, including South West Cape, Cox Bight and Maatsuyker Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates have now declined for 350 160 the past four years. 300 140 250 120 100 200 The annual catch has fallen from 80 150 2001 levels in all sub-blocks. 60 100 40 Catch (tonnes) 50

20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

4.8.1 Sub-block 12A Faults Bay to South West Cape

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 250 Catches fluctuate, catch rates are 70 falling slowly, but are still at high 200

60 hr)

g/ levels. 50

150 (k

40 te 100

30 h-ra tc

Catch (tonnes) 20

50 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 300 2001 2002 250

200

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 25 2001 2002

20 ) s 15 h (tonne

tc 10 Ca

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 67 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.8.2 Sub-block 12B South West Cape to Cox ‘s Bluff

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 In 2002, catches and catch rates fell. 70 120 Catch rates are now approaching the

60 100 hr)

g/ 100 kg/hr level, which considering 50 80 (k

40 te the size of South Coast abalone, 60 30 h-ra indicates that stocks are becoming 40 tc Catch (tonnes) 20 Ca 10 20 depleted. 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates have fallen, particularly 250 2001 2002 between August and November 200 2002 when catches were greatest.

150

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 16 2001 2002 14

) 12 s 10

8 h (tonne

tc 6 Ca 4

2

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.8.3 Sub-block 12C Maatsuyker Group

45 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 40 140 35

120 hr)

30 g/ 100 25 (k 80 te 20

60 h-ra 15 tc Catch (tonnes) 10 40 Ca 5 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 68 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates improved in the later 250 2001 2002 part of 2002 (November), but for 200 much of the year were at very low

150 levels for a Western Zone fishery.

100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 14 2001 2002 12 )

s 10

8

h (tonne 6 tc

Ca 4

2

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.8.4 Sub-block 12D Cox’s Bluff to Prion Beach

140 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 Catch and catch rates show a 120 120 downwards trend.

100 100 hr) g/

80 80 (k

te Catch rates are at low levels for a 60 60

h-ra Western Zone fishery 40 40 tc Catch (tonnes) 20 20 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates in November and 200 2001 180 2002 December 2002 were influenced by 160 some extraordinary landings, and

hr) 140 g/ 120 should be considered unusual. (k

te 100 80 h-ra

tc 60 Ca 40 20 0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 69 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 30 2001 2002 25 ) s 20

15 h (tonne tc

Ca 10

5

0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

4.9 Block 13 (Prion Beach to Whale Head)

4.9.1 Sub-block 13A Prion Beach to South Cape

50 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 120 The annual catch has increased by 45 70%. Catch rates are falling slowly, 40 100 ) hr) s 35 80 g/ and must be considered low by

30 (k

25 60 te Western Zone standards.

h (tonne 20 h-ra tc 40 15 tc Ca 10 20 Ca 5 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 160 2001 2002 140

120

100

80

60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40

20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 10 2001 9 2002 8 )

s 7 6 onne t 5 h ( c t 4 a C 3 2 1 0 r r y b g p Jul Oct Ap Jun Jan Ma Fe Nov Au Se Dec Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 70 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.9.2 Sub-block 13B South Cape to Whale Head

60 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 The 2002 catch was almost three times that of the previous year, and 50 80 ) hr) s

40 g/ almost twice the size of the 2000

60 (k

30 te catch.

h (tonne 40 h-ra tc 20 tc Ca 10 20 Ca Catch rates are at low levels for a 0 0 Western Zone fishery. 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) The March 2001 catch rates are 180 2001

160 2002 abnormal.

140

120

100

80

60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40

20

0 b Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Fe Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Almost 9 tonnes of catch in January 10 2001 9 2002 2002 at comparatively high catch 8 rates lifted the annual catch rates to ) s 7 higher levels than 2001. Later in the 6 5 year, catch rates were mostly h (tonne tc 4 equivalent to or less than those of Ca 3 2 the previous year. 1 0 l t r y v c b n n Ju Oc Apr Ja Ju Ma Fe No Aug Sep De Ma Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 71 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 6A (size limit 132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

30 87, 4 20 10 Fe bruary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

March

30 30 2, 3 20 10 April 0

30 60 8, 6 20 10 May 0

30 10 0, 1 20 10 June 0

30 148, 7 20 10

centage (%) July

r 0 Pe

August

September

30 20 2, 2 20 10 Octob er 0

30 40, 2 30 40 1, 4 20 20 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 21 1, 2 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 72 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 6B (size limit 132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

30 49 5, 5 20 10 April 0

May

June

centage (%) July r Pe

August

September

Octob er

30 19 9, 2 20 10 November 0

30 20 0, 2 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 73 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 6C (size limit 132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 42, 2 20 10 0 January 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 10 0, 1 20 10 Fe bruary 0

30 53, 2 20 10 March 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 30 1, 3 20 10 April 0

30 10 0, 1 20 10 May 0

June

centage (%) July r

30 65, 3 Pe 20 10 August 0

September

30 10 1, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

30 65, 3 20 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 10 0, 1 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 74 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 6D (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

30 91 0, 9 20 10 April 0

May

June

centage (%) July r

30 17, 1 Pe 20 10 August 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

September

Octob er

30 15 3, 7 30 83, 1 20 20 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 89, 1 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 75 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 9B (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

30 24 1, 2 20 10 Fe bruary 0

30 19 1, 2 20 10 March 0

30 32 8, 3 30 95, 1 20 20 10 10 April 0 0

30 10 0, 1 20 10 May 0

June

30 48 5, 5 20 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pe

August

September

Octob er

30 40 0, 4 20 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

December

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 76 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 9C (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

30 16 2, 2 20 10 Fe bruary 0

30 20 6, 2 20 10 March 0

30 10 2, 1 30 32 3, 3 20 20 10 10 April 0 0

30 106 5, 1 1 20 10 May 0

June

30 52 9, 5 20 10 centage (%) July r 0 Pe

August

September

Octob er

30 10 3, 1 30 30 7, 3 20 20 10 10 November 0 0

30 10 2, 1 30 40 6, 4 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 77 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 12A (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

30 88, 1 20 10 March 0

April

May

30 21 4, 2 20 10 June 0

centage (%) July r Pe

August

September

Octob er

30 14 9, 7 30 19 8, 2 20 20 10 10 November 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 13 6, 1 30 10 4, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 78 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 12C (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 10 2, 1 20 10 0 January

30 80, 4 20 10 Fe bruary 0

March

30 20 2, 2 20 10 April 0

May

June

30 20 5, 2 20 10 centage (%) July r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pe

August

30 56, 2 20 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 92, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

30 88, 1 20 10 November 0

30 23 4, 2 30 90, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 79 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 12D (size limit 140 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

30 33 4, 28 30 342 , 3 20 20 10 10 0 0 January

30 35 9, 29 20 10 February 0

March

April

30 234 , 2 20 10 May 0

30 98, 7 30 234 , 2 20 20 10 10 June 0 0

30 11 4, 9 30 797 , 8 20 20 10 10

centage (%) July

r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 118 , 1 30 10 5, 1 Pe 20 20 10 10 August 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 227 , 2 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 10 September 0

30 45, 4 30 103 , 1 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0

30 1 59, 15 30 110 , 1 20 20 10 10 November 0 0

30 326 , 23 30 99, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 80 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

4.10 Western Zone Summary

• The more remote southwest part of the Western Zone (Blocks 9, 10 and 11 – Strahan to Port Davey) produced 55% of the TAC. Another 25% was taken from the South Coast between Whale Head and Port Davey (Blocks 12 and 13). With the exception of abalone from Block 6, Western Zone abalone are generally larger than abalone from elsewhere in the State. Little fishing is done in winter and early spring because poor weather conditions usually prevent divers from entering the water.

• Catches and catch rates from the remote south west of the State between Gorge Point and South West Cape (Sub-block 9C, Blocks 10 and 11, Sub-block 12A) were generally stable. There were small increases in catch and catch rates in some sub- blocks (eg 10D, 11A), which compensated for adjacent sub-blocks (e.g.10C, 11B) where catches and catch rates fell. Because of the difficulty of sourcing mothership catches to statistical fishing blocks, few size-frequency samples were obtained from catches taken from this region. The only area that was sampled consistently in 2001 and 2002 was Sub-block 9C, which showed that the population structure of the catch was consistent between months with a modal size class that, although occasionally larger, was mostly between 160 and 170 mm. Divers who fished this region usually expressed the opinion that while they believed that stocks were healthy here, they would not like to see an increase in the level of catch that might cause catch rates to fall. Fishing this region is more costly due to its comparative remoteness, and to make fishing here financially viable, abalone needed to be caught at high catch rates. Fishing would become less viable at higher yields and lower catch rates.

• Fishable stocks along the coast between Cape Sorell and Gorge Point (Sub-blocks 9A and 9B) have continued the decline described in previous assessments. This is the closest part of the coast to launching facilities for small craft in Macquarie Harbour and has been heavily fished. Despite low catch rates, it continues to be fished by divers with vessels too small to travel to more productive coast further south or north. While prevailing adverse sea conditions offer some respite to stocks, this coast will continue to be fished by divers who operate on a low budget through economic necessity.

• Catches from between Strahan and Italian River (near Sandy Cape) increased slightly in 2002, probably due to transferred effort from the less productive Block 9 stocks mentioned above, or from divers travelling south from Couta Rocks. Catch rates are consistently high and reflect strong stock levels.

• Catch rates in the northern part of the Western Zone (Block 6) continued to fall in 2002, the catch falling from 2001’s ten year high by 15%. This block must be considered heavily exploited. Abalone populations here are relatively accessible to small boats by West Coast standards. It is also close to the Northern Zone and to the Greenlip fishery, with supporting infrastructure (good launching facilities, processors and accommodation) nearby. In addition, the varied coastline of the North West region offers divers the benefits of working throughout most weather conditions. Also affecting Block 6 is the size of its abalone, which throughout most of the block are substantially smaller than abalone south of Sandy Cape, and in most of the block are fished at a smaller legal minimum size (132 mm in 2002). The

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 81 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

smaller size means that Block 6 abalone may be preferred over abalone from further south for sale to the live fish market. This potentially makes Block 6 more attractive to divers and quota owners looking for higher beach prices. However, despite the difference in size of abalone, catches and catch rates have deteriorated to the point where divers working from Temma Harbour and Couta Rocks are finding it increasingly advantageous to bypass Block 6 and work further south in Block 7 at higher catch rates.

• The South Coast fishery (South West Cape to Whale Head - Sub-blocks 12B, 12C, 12D, 13A, 13B) appears to be declining slowly. In 2002, catch rates in all sub- blocks apart from Sub-block 13B fell below 120 kg/hr. In Sub-block 13B catch rates were below 100 kg/hr. Like the coast further west, the South Coast abalone are fast growing, and reach larger sizes than abalone in the East and North. Catch samples show that catches generally comprised large abalone with modal size classes between 150 and 170 mm. While the catch rates on the South Coast might be considered satisfactory, the large individual average size of abalone means that the number of abalone caught per hour is lower than areas sharing similar catch rates but with smaller abalone, such as Block 6 in the North West.

• In common with other parts of the Western Zone with falling catch rates, the South Coast is accessible to trailer-borne craft launched from Southport, Dover or Catamaran. Catch rates become progressively lower in sub-blocks closer to the launching facilities, so while catch rates are relatively high around the Maatsuyker Group (Sub-block 12C), they become lower from Cox’s Bight (Sub-block 12D) eastwards to South Cape Bay and Whale Head (Sub-block 13B).

• The 2002 catch from Sub-blocks 13A and 13B was more than double that of 2001. In Sub-block 13B, good catches were taken at high catch rates in January, but for the rest of the year monthly catch rates were much lower.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 82 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5. Northern Zone Blacklip

5.1 Northern Zone blacklip fishery – major fishing blocks

In the North West, catches from Blocks 49 and 48 declined sharply; Block 5 also declined but to a lesser extent (Figure 11). In the North East, catches declined in Block 39, but were much higher in neighbouring Block 31. King Island reported greatly increased catches (Blocks 3 and 4)

120 5

80

49 40 nnes)

o 3 (t h c

t 31

a 30 C 2002 20 4

33 48 10 1

39 2 3840 32 4735363734 0 0 102030 40 80 120

2001 Catch (tonnes)

Figure 11. Blacklip catch from the Northern Zone (Blocks 1 to 5, part of sub-block 31B and Blocks 32 to 49). In 2002, the Northern Zone TAC (280 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2001 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 83 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.2 Block 5 (South Arthur Beach to Woolnorth Point)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches and catch rates have fallen 140 160 following high levels of effort after 120 140 100 120 the development of the Northern 100 80 Zone. 80 60 60 40 40 The catch from this block has been Catch (tonnes)

20 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 capped at 100 tonnes in 2003. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.2.1 Sub-block 5A Woolnorth Point to Studland Bay

35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 Catch has increased substantially 30 120 since 2000. ) hr) s 25 100 g/

20 80 (k te

h (tonne 15 60 h-ra tc

10 40 tc Ca 5 20 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch rates during the most 180 2001

160 2002 productive months (i.e. where 140 sampling is greatest) are generally

hr) 120 g/ similar across years.

(k 100 te 80 h-ra

tc 60

Ca 40

20

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 8 2001 2002 7

6 ) s 5

4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2

1

0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 84 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.2.2 Sub-block 5B Studland Bay to Greens Beach, including Mt Cameron West

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 This is the most inaccessible part of 140 Block 5.Catch rates are falling from 20 )

120 hr) s

g/ high levels. 100

15 (k

80 te

h (tonne 10

60 h-ra tc tc

Ca 40

5 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

5.2.3 Sub-block 5C Greens Beach to Arthur River

80 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 200 Following a large increase in catch 70 180 in 2001, catch rates have fallen to 160 )

60 hr) s 140 g/ more moderate levels. 50

120 (k

40 100 te

h (tonne 80

30 h-ra tc

60 tc

Ca 20

40 Ca 10 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch rates are generally 300 2001 2002 lower than in 2001. 250

hr) 200 g/ (k

te 150 h-ra

tc 100 Ca 50

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 18 2001 2002 16 14 ) s 12 10

h (tonne 8 tc

Ca 6 4 2 0 l t b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 85 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.3 Block 49 (Woolnorth Point to Hunter Island, including western and northern Hunter Island, and Three Hummock Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Fluctuating catches and catch rates 80 140 present no clear picture. It is 70 120 60 100 reported that abalone abundance is 50 80 still at high levels in the more 40 60 30 remote parts of the block, while 20 40

Catch (tonnes) nears shore stocks are becoming

10 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 depleted. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.3.1 Sub-block 49A Three Hummock Island

20 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 120 The 2002 catch is larger than 18 previous years, and might explain 16 100 ) hr) s 14 80 g/ the falling catch rates.

12 (k

10 60 te

h (tonne 8 h-ra tc 40 6 tc Ca 4 20 Ca 2 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 140 2001 2002 120

100 hr) g/

(k 80 te 60 h-ra tc 40 Ca

20

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Most of the 2001 catch was taken in 7 2001 2002 autumn, the 2002 catch in spring, 6 reflecting opportunistic fishing. )

s 5

4

h (tonne 3 tc Ca 2

1

0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 86 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.3.2 Sub-block 49B Northern part of Hunter Island

30 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 Was fished heavily by one group of

25 120 divers in 2001 who took large ) hr) s 100 20 g/ catches at high catch rates. These

80 (k

15 te divers did not return in 2002.

h (tonne 60 h-ra tc 10 40 tc Ca 5 20 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

5.3.3 Sub-block 49C South-western Hunter Island

35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 120

30 100 ) hr) s 25 80 g/

20 (k

60 te

h (tonne 15 h-ra tc 40 10 tc Ca 5 20 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 160 2001 2002 140

120 hr)

g/ 100 (k

te 80

h-ra 60 tc

Ca 40

20

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) Apart from large catches in 10 2001 December 2001, 2002 seems to be 9 2002 8 unchanged from the previous year. )

s 7 6 5 h (tonne

tc 4

Ca 3 2 1 0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 87 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.4 Block 48 (Woolnorth Point to the Duck River, including the eastern side of Hunter Island, the Petrels and Black Reef)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This is predominately a greenlip 50 100 45 90 producing area, although good 40 80 mixed catches are taken. 35 70 30 60 25 50 20 40 15 30

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 5 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.4.1 Sub-block 48C Western part of Block 48

Catch rates are falling following a 14 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 12 high level of catch in 2001. There is 80 10 hr) insufficient monthly data to provide 8 60 a between-year comparison. 6 40 4 Catch (tonnes) 20 2 Catch-rate (kg/ 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

5.5 Block 3 (south-west King Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates falling slightly, huge 40 140 increase in catch as two divers work 35 120 30 100 long unexploited stocks. 25 80 20 60 15 The moderate catch rates prior to 10 40 2000 are due to the influence of Catch (tonnes) 5 20 Catch-rate (cpue) greenlip effort on catches. 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 88 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.5.1 Sub-block 3A Airport to Ettrick River

25 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 The catch has risen substantially. 120 The catch rate decline is probably 20 ) hr) s 100

g/ more a response to weather/sea

15 80 (k

te conditions or divers than to abalone

h (tonne 10 60 h-ra tc abundance 40 tc Ca

5 Ca 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Between year comparison of catch 250 2001 2002 rates are similar at comparable 200 levels of catch. hr)

g/ 150 (k te

100 h-ra tc Ca 50

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 5 2001 2002

4 ) s 3 h (tonne

tc 2 Ca

1

0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

5.5.2 Sub-block 3C Cataraqui Point to Seal Bay

14 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 This area is providing substantial 12 120 catches for the first time in many

10 100 hr)

g/ years.

8 80 (k te 6 60 h-ra

4 40 tc Catch (tonnes) 2 20 Ca 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 89 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.6 Block 4 (south-east King Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch rates are lower than Block 3, 18 160 possibly because divers are taking 16 140 14 120 greenlip as well as blacklip. This 12 100 10 block was visited by divers on 80 8 60 motherships whose catch rates were 6 4 40 Catch (tonnes) lower than those of the residents. 2 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 Visiting divers may be less familiar with the coast, or work in less than 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year optimal conditions than resident black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue divers.

5.6.1 Sub-block 4C Seal Bay to Grassy Harbour

9 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 160 Catch fluctuates; catch rates are 8 140 stable or falling slightly.

) 7

120 hr) s

6 g/ 100 5 (k 80 te 4 h (tonne

60 h-ra tc 3 tc Ca 2 40 Ca 1 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catch rates for months where the 250 2001 2002 larger tonnages were landed (July, 200 October) are not particularly high. hr)

g/ 150 (k te

100 h-ra tc Ca 50

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 4 2001 2002

3 ) s

2 h (tonne tc Ca 1

0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 90 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.7 Block 39 (Tomahawk to Little Musselroe)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catch and catch rates have fallen 25 90 80 sharply. After rapidly depleting high 20 70 stock levels in 2001, divers found it 60 15 50 much more difficult to make 40 10 worthwhile landings and the annual 30 20 Catch (tonnes) 5 catch has reverted to insignificant 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 levels. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.7.1 Sub-block 39A Petal Point to Little Musselroe Bay

12 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 Almost all the blacklip catch is 80 10 taken in this sub-block. Catch, catch

) 70 hr) s

8 60 g/ rates have fallen rapidly.

50 (k 6 te 40 h (tonne h-ra tc 4 30 tc Ca 20 2 Ca 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 200 2001 180 2002 160

hr) 140 g/ 120 (k

te 100 80 h-ra

tc 60 Ca 40 20 0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 3 2001 2002 ) s 2 h (tonne tc

Ca 1

0 l r b n n g p Ju Ap Oct Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Au Se Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 91 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.8 Block 31 (Little Musselroe to Musselroe Bay, including Swan Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block is part Northern Zone, 100 100 90 90 part Eastern Zone. The zone 80 80 boundary passes through the 70 70 60 60 northern part of Sub-block 31A 50 50 40 40 (which supplied 730 kg of Northern 30 30

Catch (tonnes) 20 20 Zone catch in 2002). Effort is 10 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 increasing in this block, while catch rates are falling sharply. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.8.1 Sub-block 31B Little Musselroe to Musselroe Bay, including Swan Island

This sub-block has a very similar 35 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 30 80 pattern of catch rates to sub-block 70 ) 25 60 g/hr 31A (i.e. low catch rates in the early

20 50 (k te part of the season), but was 15 40 a 30 h-r unaffected by the Eastern Zone size 10 tc Catch (tonnes) 20 Ca 5 10 limit increase. Low catch rates in 0 0 the region might be a response to 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue seasonal conditions (thick weed growth?), and not just low stock levels.

2000 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Catches (and effort) have increased 140 2001 2002 substantially since 2000. 120

100 hr)

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/

20

0 l r b g p n n Ju Ap Oct Ju Ja Fe Mar Au Se Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 92 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

2000 Monthly catch (sub-block) 8 2001 2002 7

) 6 s 5

4 h (tonne

tc 3 Ca 2

1

0 l t b n n Ju Apr Oc Ja Ju Mar Fe Nov Dec Aug Sep May Month

5.9 Block 33 (south-east Cape Barren Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate The Furneaux Group is a minor 20 90 18 80 producer of blacklip, the abalone 16 70 generally being too small and slow 14 60 12 50 growing for the 127 –mm size limit. 10 40 8 The larger abalone are to be found 6 30 20 Catch (tonnes) 4 on the east and southeast parts of the 2 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 Furneaux Group. Much of the catch from this block is taken by divers 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year visiting the area to catch greenlip. black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

5.9.1 Sub-block 33B (Passage Island and shore including Cone Point) This sub-block and the one 8 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 90 7 80 immediately to the east (33C) ) 6 70

60 g/hr provide most of the blacklip catch 5 50 (k 4 te from the Furneaux Group. The 40 a

3 h-r 30 abalone habitat here is not tc Catch (tonnes) 2 20 Ca 1 10 extensive, being mostly fringing 0 0 reef, and so catches are unlikely to 2000 2001 2002 blacklip tonnes Year blacklip cpue increase beyond current levels.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 93 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 5A (size limit 132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

30 6, 1 30 39 7, 4 20 20 10 10 April 0 0

30 35, 2 30 30 6, 3 20 20 10 10 May 0 0

30 12 2, 1 30 98, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0 age (%) nt e

c July r

30 18 6, 2 Pe 20 10 August 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 130

September

30 30 0, 3 20 10 Octob er 0

30 20 0, 2 20 10 November 0

30 20 5, 2 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 94 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 5C (size limit 132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

April

30 11 5, 1 30 20 0, 2 20 20 10 10 May 0 0

30 10 0, 1 20 10 June 0 age (%) 30 10 6, 1 nt 20 e 10 c July r 0

30 20 7, 2 Pe 20 10 August 0

September

30 10 1, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

30 71 1, 7 20 10 November 0

30 30 19 8, 2 99, 1 20 20 10 10 December 0 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 95 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 49A (size limit 127 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

30 34, 2 20 10 March 0

30 87, 1 20 10 April 0

May

30 13 9, 3 20 10 June 0 age (%) 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 nt e

c July r Pe

August

30 19 6, 2 20 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 19, 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

November

December

Size-class (mm) Samples from divers catches confirm that abalone from this part of the coast are much smaller than further south.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 96 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 49C (size limit 127/132 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

30 18, 1 20 10 March 0

30 19 5, 2 20 10 April 0

May

30 89 6, 9 20 10 June 0

age (%) 30 21 7, 2

nt 20

e 10

c July

r 0

30 83 3, 8 30 10 0, 1 Pe 20 20 10 10 August 0 0

30 28 1, 3 20 10 September 0

30 22, 1 30 27 5, 3 20 20 10 10 Octob er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

November

30 97, 1 20 10 December 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm) Samples from divers catches confirm that abalone from this part of the coast are much smaller than further south.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 97 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 31B (size limit 127 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

30 59, 3 20 10 April 0

30 10 2, 1 20 10 May 0

30 77, 4 30 34 4, 3 20 20 10 10 June 0 0 age (%) 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 nt e

c July r

30 90, 4 Pe 20 10 August 0

130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 20 3, 2 20 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Octob er

November

December

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 98 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

5.10 Northern Zone Summary

• The North West (Blocks 5, 48 and 49) produced about 60% of the Northern Zone catch in 2002 (compared with 74% in 2001), while King Island (Blocks 1 to 4) produced 22% of the catch.

• Since the Northern Zone fishery was created in 2001, there has been a rapid reduction of stocks that had built up following years of low levels of fishing mortality. Almost certainly, divers are depleting near-shore stocks before moving further offshore (localized serial depletion). Much of the catch is taken from aggregations rather than sparsely distributed individual abalone, consequently divers are able to maintain stable catch rates. Under these conditions, catch rate trends are not reliable indicators of abundance, and fishable biomass is probably being reduced much faster than any fall in catch rates would indicate.

• Blacklip catches from King Island (Blocks 1 to 4) continued to increase in 2002. While catch rates fell in Block 4, in the more productive Block 3 catch rates fluctuated at relatively high levels, implying that fishable stocks were at high levels. The King Island catch more than doubled, compensating for lower catches in the North West. Most of the King Island catch was taken by two resident divers. While greater amounts of catch could probably be taken from the island (potentially transferring more effort from the heavily fished North West), visiting divers find that it is difficult to coordinate their visits with suitable weather conditions, and that it is more costly to work so far from their established fishing areas. As a result, it is unlikely that more effort will be transferred to the island, and that most of the blacklip catch will continue to be caught by resident divers.

• In the North West (Blocks 5, 49 and 48), blacklip catches fell from 2001 levels. Generally, catch rates fell also. The creation of the Northern Zone in 2001 created opportunities to fish stocks that had been visited infrequently since the implementation of a quota based fishery in the mid 1980’s. Catch rates were initially high as divers fished built up stocks, but as fishing mortality impacted on the more accessible populations, catch rates started to fall.

• Under the current zoning system, the North West region will continue to be heavily fished. It now offers the possibility of working in three zones plus the greenlip fishery, with good supporting infrastructure.

• Much (37%) of the 2002 catch came from Block 5. The improvement of the road and development of a boat ramp at Bluff Hill Point made it easier to operate here in 2002, and it rapidly became a popular place to work from. The ramp is in the southern part of Sub-block 5C, and catch rates and catches in that sub-block have dropped, causing divers to transfer effort to the more northern (and distant) Sub-block 5B, where catch rates, although higher than Sub-block 5C also fell. There was a slight increase in catch from Sub-block 5A.

• The size composition of samples from Block 5 catches show that while abalone are usually small (modal between 136-140 mm), there is no evidence of structural change consistent with high levels of fishing mortality. Catch rates for TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 99 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 5 in 2002 were generally between 80 and 100 kg/hr, which, considering the small size of the abalone must be considered acceptable. However, a further decline of catch rates or a downward shift in size of sampled abalone would indicate that fishing mortality was too high for sustainable stock levels.

• Catch rates from north of Woolnorth Point (Hunter and Three Hummock Island -Block 49) fell slightly in 2002. Catch samples indicate that the size structure of the catch is stable. The more remote parts of this block, particularly the northern end of Hunter Island and remote offshore islands, are fished infrequently. Catch data indicate that there are isolated but dense populations of abalone here that are occasionally taken at high catch rates. In nearby Block 48, where blacklip catch rates also fell, most of the catch appeared to be taken as part of combined blacklip/greenlip fishing operations.

• The North East and Furneaux Group were fished by many divers in 2002 who visited the area to catch both greenlip and blacklip abalone, from both runabouts and motherships. In Sub-block 31B, the 2002 catch increased by 25% over the previous year, while catch rates fell sharply. Perhaps visiting divers unfamiliarity with the area caused some of the catch-rate fall: some resident divers maintained consistently high catch rates. Approximately one third of the catch was taken before winter when diving would have been hampered by thick weed growth. Significant catches also came from the southern part of the Furneaux Group, particularly the south east side of Cape Barren Island (Sub- blocks 33B, 33C). Babel Island (Sub-block 38A) and parts of Block 40, particularly Waterhouse Island contributed small catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 100 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6. Greenlip Fishery

6.1 Greenlip fishery – major fishing blocks

Catches from the North West (Blocks 49 and 48) fell sharply, but were compensated by strong increases from Blocks 3 and 31. There were significant landings from Block 38 in 2002, while catches from Blocks 39 (North East) and 32 (Furneaux Group) fell.

40

30 48

20

33 15 nnes) o (t h c

t 39 a 1 C 10 38

2002 4 35 5 2 5 49 32

3640 3734 3 047 0 5 10 15 20 30 40

2001 Catch (tonnes)

Figure 12. Greenlip catch from Blocks 1 to 49). In 2002, the Northern Zone TAC (280 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2001 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 101 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.2 Block 1 (north west King Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Low level of catch, stable catch 40 140 rates. This block is recovering from 35 120 30 100 the mid 1990’s when large catches 25 80 were taken at a much smaller size 20 60 15 limit. 10 40 Catch (tonnes)

5 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.3 Block 2 (north east King Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Low level of catch, slowly falling 40 90 catch rates. As with Block 1, stocks 35 80 30 70 levels were affected by heavy 60 25 50 fishing pressure in the mid 1990’s. 20 40 15 30 10 20 Catch (tonnes)

5 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.4 Block 4 (south east King Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Moderate levels of catch, moderate 14 160 catch rates. 12 140 10 120 100 8 80 6 60 4 40 Catch (tonnes)

2 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 102 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.5 Block 5 (west of Woolnorth Point)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate There was a slight rise in catch in 14 160 2002, but levels are below those of 12 140 10 120 earlier years. Some isolated good 100 8 catches were taken at reasonable 80 6 60 catch rates, often in conjunction 4 40

Catch (tonnes) with blacklip catches, but otherwise

2 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 levels of effort were high for average sized catches. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.6 Block 49 (Woolnorth Point to Hunter Island, including Three Hummock Is.)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Greenlip catches and catch rates are 14 140 falling here in response to high 12 120 10 100 levels of effort. Occasionally good 8 80 catches are landed from the more 6 60 remote parts of the block. 4 40 Catch (tonnes)

2 20 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.7 Block 48 (Woolnorth Point to Duck River, including Black Reef)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Traditionally, this block has been a 50 100 45 90 consistent producer of greenlip 40 80 abalone. The lower catches and 35 70 30 60 catch rates could be a response to 25 50 20 40 increased size limit. Market samples 15 30

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 show a preponderance of smaller 5 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 abalone from this block 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 103 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.7.1 Sub-block 48A Black Reef

20 3 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 Black Reef reportedly has smaller 18 abalone than in other parts of the 16 80 ) hr) s 14 block. The lower catches and catch 12 60 10 rates may reflect the affects of the

h (tonne 8 40 tc 6 increased size limit more than falling Ca 4 20 Catch-rate (kg/ abundance. Divers transferred effort 2 0 0 to the other sub-blocks, where catch 2000 2001 2002 greenlip tonnes Year greenlip cpue rates also fell.

6.8 Block 31 (Little Musselroe to Cape Naturaliste)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Moderate levels of catch, recent 25 100 90 sharp fall in catch rates. Some of the 20 80 catch attributed to this block is 70 15 60 reported to have come from the 50 10 40 Furneaux Group, so the increased 30

Catch (tonnes) 5 20 catch in 2002 may be incorrect. 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.9 Block 39 (Little Musselroe to Tomahawk)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Inshore greenlip stocks here are 25 90 80 depleted, and the best catches come 20 70 from offshore reefs exposed to 60 15 50 strong tidal movements. These reefs 40 10 have also been heavily fished in 30 20 Catch (tonnes) 5 recent years, and their ability to 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 continue supplying consistently high levels of catch must be questioned. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 104 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.10 Block 40 (Tomahawk to Waterhouse Beach)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Although occasionally yielding 25 120 large annual catches, this area takes 20 100 many years to recover, and cannot 80 15 be relied upon to consistently 60 10 produce significant tonnages. 40

Catch (tonnes) 5 20 Catch-rate (cpue)

0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.11 Block 32 (south Cape Barren Island, Armstrong Channel)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches in this block were lower 16 70 mostly because effort was directed 14 60 12 50 to the adjacent Block 33. Catch rates 10 40 are stable. It was reported by one 8 30 6 processor that the large premium 4 20

Catch (tonnes) abalone from here are scarcer.

2 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.12 Block 33 (south east Clarke, Cape Barren Islands)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block continues to produce 20 90 18 80 consistent yields of both greenlip 16 70 and blacklip abalone for both 14 60 12 50 resident and visiting divers. It is 10 40 8 accessible to runabouts from the 6 30 20 Catch (tonnes) 4 Tasmanian mainland, and together 2 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 with Block 32, some of the catch from here has been attributed to 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year Block 31. black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 105 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.13 Block 34 (west coast Flinders, Cape Barren Islands)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block is infrequently visited, 5 70 and then, only by resident divers, 60 4 50 producing low levels of catch with 3 40 fluctuating catch rates.

2 30 20

Catch (tonnes) 1

10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.14 Block 35 (Franklin Sound)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Catches from the Franklin Sound 25 60 fishery have fallen from the levels of 20 50 earlier years, not because of reduced 40 15 stock levels, but because of lower 30 10 levels of total effort by resident 20

Catch (tonnes) 5 10 divers. Catch-rate (cpue)

0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.15 Block 36 (east coast Flinders, Cape Barren Islands)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block is infrequently visited, 9 70 and then, only by resident divers, 8 60 7 50 producing low levels of catch with 6 5 40 fluctuating catch rates. 4 30 3 20 2 Catch (tonnes)

1 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

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6.16 Block 37 (north west Flinders Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate This block is infrequently visited, 12 60 and then, only by resident divers, 10 50 producing low levels of catch with 8 40 fluctuating catch rates. 6 30

4 20

Catch (tonnes) 2 10 Catch-rate (cpue)

0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

6.17 Block 38 (north east Flinders Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate Resident divers who have a good 16 90 knowledge of the distribution of 14 80 12 70 fishable stocks fish this block 60 10 50 sporadically. 8 40 6 30 4 20 Catch (tonnes)

2 10 Catch-rate (cpue) 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year black tonnes green tonnes all cpue black cpue green cpue

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Sub-block 5A (size limit 145 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

30 39, 2 20 10 April 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 130 30 19 5, 2 20 10 May 0

June age (%) nt e

c July r

30 Pe 50 1, 5 20 10 August 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

September

Octob er

November

December

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 108 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 48A (size limit 145 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

April

30 24 7, 2 30 10 0, 1 20 20 10 10 May 0 0

30 36 2, 4 30 10 1, 1 20 20 10 10 June 0 0 age (%) 30 99, 1 nt 20 e 10 c July r 0

30 30 20 0, 2 Pe 10 0, 1 20 20 10 10 August 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 130 30 10 0, 1 20 10 September 0

30 10 1, 1 20 10 Octob er 0

30 20 2, 2 20 10 November 0 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

December

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 109 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 48C (size limit 145 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

April

May

30 62 7, 6 20 10 June 0

age (%) 30 22 7, 2

nt 20

e 10

c July

r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Pe 30 2 00, 2 20 10 August 0

September

30 3 08, 3 20 10 Octob er 0

November

30 95, 1 20 10 December 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 110 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Sub-block 31B (size limit 145 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002

January

Fe bruary

March

April

May

30 19 9, 2 20 10 June 0 age (%) 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 nt e

c July r

30 30 8, 3 Pe 20 10 August 0

30 19 8, 2 20 10 September 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Octob er

November

December

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 111 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

6.18 Greenlip Fishery Summary

• Catches from three of the four greenlip producing regions were capped in 2002. The North East was capped at 30 tonnes, the Furneaux Group at 42 tonnes and the North West at 40 tonnes, leaving 28 tonnes to be taken from King Island. It is understood that some of the catch attributed to the North East was caught from the Furneaux Group.

• While the two resident divers took most of the King Island catch, several motherships visited King Island in 2002. Catch rates over recent years have mostly been stable at levels between 50 and 60 kg/hr. Since recent size limit increases, the King Island greenlip fishery has relied heavily on populations of larger growing abalone from Sub-block 1B (New Year and Christmas Islands), and in the south east (Block 4), while areas that hold smaller abalone go unfished. Should effort be further diverted from the other greenlip regions, this fishery could be jeopardised.

• In the North West (Blocks 5, 49, 48 and 47), catch rates fell. Some divers who found isolated concentrations reported catches over 500 kg, but for the most part daily catches were closer to 200 kg. Catch rates at Black Reef (Sub-block 48A) are reportedly adversely affected by the recently increased size limit. It is believe that in this particular part of the block abalone grow to smaller sizes than further west. The size composition of samples from the catch confirms that most abalone are caught within 10 mm of reaching legal size, but whether this is caused by restricted growth or high levels of fishing mortality or a combination of both is not clear. Many divers who fish here believe that too much catch is taken from the North West, that catch rates are too low for them to travel there from other parts of the state, and that the fishery will decline further unless the level of catch is reduced.

• Catch rates also fell across the North East. In 2001, good catches at relatively high catch rates were reported from Block 39. However, in 2002 there was a strong downturn from this part of the fishery, which saw a shift in effort from west of Little Musselroe (Block 39) to the east (Block 31). Prior to winter in Block 31, in common with Northern Zone blacklip catches here, greenlip catch rates were particularly low. It is reported that fishable populations of greenlip abalone in inshore areas have become depleted, while offshore concentrations of greenlip have become harder to find. In contrast to catches from the North West, samples of North East abalone contain larger abalone.

• The Furneaux Group greenlip fishery appears to be relatively healthy compared with the mainland Tasmanian fishery. While catch rates are stable, the level of catch changes between blocks over time. For example, Block 38 (north-east Flinders Island) has produced little catch in recent years, but in 2002 produced 9 tonnes. Catches taken from the northern part of the Furneaux Group usually come from isolated patches in deep water, and successful fishing relies heavily on local knowledge. Much of the fishery around these islands depends upon periodic breaks from fishing to recover, and sustained levels of fishing could severely impact upon stock levels. While catch data from the south around Clarke Island and Cape Barren Island (Blocks 32, 33) continue to indicate a robust fishery, this area has declined previously in the face of heavy fishing pressure. It has been reported by a processor that larger premium sized abalone from here have become more scarce, which

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 112 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

indicates that fishable stock depletion is occurring. The Franklin Sound fishery continues to produce moderate tonnages at moderate catch rates.

7. Recreational fishery

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Abalone Dive Licences Rock Lobster Dive Licences

Figure 13. The number of licenses issued by DPIWE to recreational divers for abalone and rock lobster, for the fishing seasons 1995-96 to 2001-02 (from data supplied by Licensing and Administration Section, Marine Resources, DPIWE).

The number of recreational licenses continues to increase at about 10% per annum (the number of recreational licences reported in the 2001 Abalone Fishery Assessment was incorrect). DPIWE have no information to explain why the number of licences should increase at this rate, and considering that the Tasmanian population is stable and ageing, who is contributing to the increase. From data collected by TAFI researchers into the recreational fishery, it appears likely that the estimated catch at the end of the 2001 season was about 140,000 abalone, or approximately 70 tonnes. About half of this was taken in the southeast, between Marion Bay and Whale Head, and another 25% was taken from further north on the East Coast.

In addition to the recreational catch, abalone are caught in Tasmanian waters as part of cultural fishing activities by indigenous people, under exploratory permits for special events (e.g. Binalong Bay Abalone Festival) and for research purposes (e.g. TAFI sponsored abalone research), and as part of illegal fishing operations. There are no estimates available for either the illegal catch or for the total catch from cultural fishing activities. The quantity of abalone taken under exploratory permits was less than five tonnes.

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8. Discussion

8.1 The use of fishery data to infer changes in abundance

This assessment is primarily based upon the interpretation of information produced from fishery catch data. One of the problems with working only with information produced from the fishery is that inferences must be made about the state of the whole population from changes in the fishable stock. It relies upon the assumption that catch- rate changes accurately reflecting changes in abundance of the fishable stock. This was discussed in the 2001 abalone stock assessment (Tarbath et al., 2002), where it was concluded that at the low stock levels currently found in the Eastern Zone, catch rates are probably reliable indicators of abundance. Researchers of the New South Wales abalone fishery had earlier arrived at a similar conclusion (Worthington et al., 1998). However, where abalone abundance is comparatively high, and they are grouped in large clusters, the rate of change in abundance may occur much faster than the rate of change in catch rates. In parts of the fishery where catch rates are high, such as south west Tasmania or parts of the Northern Zone, abalone abundance may potentially fall at much faster rates that indicated by catch rates. Under these circumstances, catch rates are not reliable indicators of abundance and extra care is needed when attempting to interpret such information.

This assessment is restricted to catch data from the past 10 years of the fishery. One of the features of modern fisheries is that fishermen find ways and utilise new technologies to make their operations more efficient, and the abalone fishery has been no exception. Thus more abalone can be collected in a given period of time now than in the past, even if stock levels were unchanged. This causes catch rates to rise without abalone abundance changing, or conversely for catch rates to appear stable when in fact the stocks are declining. For example, early in the fishery, divers anchored their boats, and often worked without a deckhand. During the 1970’s, the boats carried a deckhand who drove the boat and followed the diver, thus eliminating time spent swimming the catch from the reef to the anchored boat. However, anchored boats and long hoses were still used well into the 1980’s. It was estimated that the catching efficiency of divers doubled between the start of the fishery and 1982 (Harrison, 1983). During the late 1980’s, divers widely adopted the practise of attaching their collecting nets to ropes, which were then lowered to them by their deckhands. This meant that they no longer had to surface to the boat every time they filled their nets, greatly increasing their productivity. This increase in efficiency (“effort creep”) is extremely difficult to quantify, so rather than make guesses about how much more efficient current divers have become, we have limited our comparison of catch rates to a period during which we think that divers operated with equal efficiency i.e. the last 10 years. We can therefore be reasonably sure that catch rate trends represent changes in abundance, not changes in fishing power.

Much of the Tasmanian fishery experienced falling catch rates in 2001 and this has continued through 2002. This naturally produces a rather disturbing view of the fishery, and the obvious response is to reduce the TAC’s in affected areas. However, the Eastern Zone TAC was reduced by 23 percent at the start of 2002, and yet generally, catches and catch rates are still falling.

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8.2 Significance of catch-rate falls

The recent catch-rate declines need to be reviewed within the context of each particular fishery i.e. the level of catch where the catch rates changes occurred, and any other changes to the fishery such as size limit increases or market induced pressure to catch only small abalone.

8.2.1 The effect of changes in size limits and market preferences on catch rates

The size limit was increased throughout the Eastern Zone on 1st January 2002, from 132 mm to 136 mm. This immediately reduced the amount of fishable stock, thus reducing catch rates. From biological studies of abalone growth in the Eastern Zone, we can determine the period that it would have taken for abalone to grow to the new size limit. In particular, from tagging studies of two populations at the Actaeons, it was found that on average, at one site 132-mm abalone grew nearly 11 mm (standard deviation 4.8 mm) in one year, while at the other site, 132-mm abalone grew 6.9 mm (standard deviation 2.8 mm). Because abalone growth is seasonal, and is faster in the months of warmer water temperatures (typically the peak occurs in March), those 132- mm abalone from the faster growing population that would previously have been part of the fishable stock, would on average have reached the new legal size within several months of 1st January. At the slower growing site, recruitment effectively would have been complete by winter. This means (assuming natural mortality was negligible during the period it took to grow from 132 to 136 mm), that any reduction in catch rates due to lesser numbers of abalone caused by the size-limit increase would be increasingly difficult to detect approaching winter, and from then would have no effect.

While the numbers of available abalone were initially reduced by the size-limit increase, the increase in average size meant that the average weight of catches would be higher. This would help mitigate the fall in catch rates associated with the size increase. Between 2001 and 2002, at Sub-block 13E in the Actaeons, there was a significant (P<0.0001) increase in average size of abalone that were measured in samples of diver’s catches. Using a length/weight relationship for abalone from that region, the size increase translates to a six percent increase in average weight. This, for example, means that a typical 200 kg catch in 2001 that comprised on average 424 abalone would weigh 212kg in 2002. Conversely, it would only take 400 abalone to obtain the same 200 kg catch.

If fishable stock levels at the Actaeons were static in 2002, assuming that the growth study represents the range of growth rates among the Actaeons populations and that all the 132-mm abalone became fully recruited, there should have been a slight increase in catch rates during the latter half of the year as the 132 - 136mm animals grew above the size limit. Comparison of catch rates between the same months in 2002 and 2001 for Sub-blocks 13C, 13D, and 13E is made difficult because the fishery was closed at the Actaeons in 2001 for several months in the last part of that year. However, the comparison shows that catch rates in Sub-block 13C fluctuate erratically, fall in Sub- block 13D, and are static in Sub-block 13E. There are no signs of improvement among catch rates in 2002, which are at lower levels than in 2001. Clearly, the fall in catch rates in Block 13 since 2001 was not caused by the increase in size limits, and must therefore reflect falling levels of the fishable stock.

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From our limited knowledge of spatial variation in abalone growth throughout the Eastern Zone, it appears reasonable to assume that in most other blocks catch-rate falls similarly reflect a fall in fishable stock levels rather than the influence of increased size limits. There may be exceptions in the two blocks north of St Helens (Blocks 30 and 31) where abalone growth rates are lower than elsewhere in the Eastern Zone. However, because of the previously high levels of catch from Block 31 and the poor state of stocks in Block 30, we conclude that falling catches and catch rates are primarily due to falling stock levels rather than the increase in size limit.

Market preferences for small abalone have the potential to reduce catch rates in areas where there are significant numbers of large abalone. In 2003, there have been many reports of divers working in south west Tasmania taking only small abalone and leaving large abalone on the reef because the large abalone were unacceptable to the live-market processors. This has had an immediate effect upon catch rates, causing them to fall independently of stock levels. However, in 2002, there were no similar reports of divers selectively fishing for small abalone, particularly in the areas where catch-rate declines occurred, so it is assumed that changes in catch rate were not caused by market preferences.

8.2.2 The effect of changing levels of catch on catch rates.

Catch is described in spatial terms i.e. the amount of tonnes from an area of the fishery such as blocks and sub-blocks. When assessing appropriate levels of catch for an area, and assuming that stock levels are stable, we expect reefs within an area to supply abalone at the same rate from year to year. However, when the catch history of the fishery is examined, we find that this is an unrealistic expectation, and that levels of catch from blocks may rise, as they did a few years ago, or stop producing altogether. The tonnage caught from a block early in the history of the fishery will not necessarily be the same today. The level of catch may itself be used to infer abundance, but its utility is confounded by a number of other factors such as regional TAC’s, market preferences, contraction of abalone producing reef and the economic cost of fishing. For this reason, we combine the use of catch and catch rates to infer abundance. Table 2 summarises the way in which changes in catch and catch rate are interpreted, and classifies each block in accordance with its particular trend in catch and catch-rate.

Some of the interpretations of changes in catch and catch rate are self-evident. For example, when the catch is stable, but catch rates fall over a period of years, it is most likely that abalone are harder to catch (i.e. catch rates are lower) because they are less abundant. There could be other reasons, such as diving on the East Coast in summer when the weed growth is thicker and higher, or the catches are mostly from inexperienced divers, or changes in the market preference for smaller abalone. However, using the East Coast example, if the comparison is limited to the winter months with substantial quantities of catch, and catch rates are still lower, the only logical conclusion is that the fishable biomass has become less abundant. Similarly, if the catch and catch rates both increase, then it is most probable that there are more abalone available to catch because the fishable biomass is larger.

Lower catches, but stable catch rates could indicate a stable biomass, with divers choosing to fish elsewhere. However, if divers transfer effort elsewhere (i.e. catch less), catch rates should increase because the remaining abalone have more time to regroup

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 116 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002 between visits from divers, and because of continued recruitment from the sub-legal part of the population. This scenario could therefore also be interpreted as a falling biomass and with perhaps a falling sub-legal population.

Table 2. The interpretation of trends in changes in annual catch and catch rate and the classification of statistical blocks These trends in combinations of catch and catch rate were observed over a 10 year period, although are mostly affected by events in recent years. The combinations are ordered, with the best at the top of the table and the worst towards the bottom. Erratic catches combined with erratic catch rates were not interpreted. Statistical blocks grouped by zone have been assigned to relevant combinations.

Catch Catch rate Interpretation Eastern Western Northern Greenlip

↑↑Best scenario. Difficult to interpret other than as increasing fishable biomass unless fishing power has increased dramatically and/or fishing is occurring in new areas.

Stable ↑ Fishable biomass stable or increasing, less likely to be decreasing. ↑ Stable Fishable biomass stable or increasing, less 10, 11 49, 3, 33 33 likely to be decreasing. ↓↑Fishable biomass stable or increasing, could 8 be decreasing. Erratic Stable Fluctuating catches, stable catch rates indicate low levels of exploitation with stable 32, 34, 36, abundance 37, 38 Stable Stable Fishable biomass stable or decreasing, less 20 7 4 likely to be increasing. ↑↓Fishable biomass stable or decreasing. 22 12 4, 5, 48 ↓ Stable Fishable biomass falling, or at best, stable. 9 1, 2, 35 However, if biomass was stable, catch rates should increase because catchability increases when the abalone are given more time to aggregate. Erratic ↓ Fishable biomass decreasing. 14, 21 63931 Stable ↓ Fishable biomass decreasing. 39 ↓↓Worst scenario. Continued decline in catch 13, 15, 16, 5, 49 rates despite displacement of catch may 17, 18, 19, indicate a recruitment decline. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Erratic Erratic No clear trends in catch & catch rate, 13 31 48, 40 difficult to interpret the probable change in abundance. Falling catch rates combined with falling catches constitute the worst scenario. It can only occur when fishable stock levels fall because the sub-legal part of the population cannot maintain the supply of recruits. If catches are reduced, and catch rates continue to indicate a shortfall in recruits, the only conclusion to be drawn is that the sub-legal population has become smaller. This has implications beyond maintaining catch rates and matching the TAC to the fishable biomass, such as reducing the amount of eggs produced from the fishery, and potentially, degradation of abalone habitat and the loss of reef area to the fishery.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 117 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

8.3 Alternative sources of abundance information

The only other insight currently available into abalone abundance relies on analysis of samples of the commercial catch from a population throughout the year. Changes in the size structure of the catch (i.e. the proportion of small to large abalone) may provide information about the population from which it is taken. For example, the disappearance of large abalone from catches might indicate increasing levels of fishing mortality, because the abalone now get caught before they can grow to a large size.

Recent research in southeast Tasmania showed that blacklip abalone growth rates varied seasonally, being lowest in early spring and highest in early autumn. Between August and December, the growing edge of the shells of smaller abalone is usually newly formed and sharp edged, reflecting an increase in growth rates. Because they are growing quickly, the undersized abalone are more likely to grow to legal size and be seen in the commercial catch at this time of year than any other. If samples from the commercial catch fail to contain small abalone, then one explanation for this is that the undersized part of the population has declined. For example, catch samples show high levels of recruits in Sub-block 13E, whereas in Sub-block 24D the proportion of small abalone is low in spring and early summer.

Note that this technique is dependent on adequate sampling from similar populations in small areas (e.g. Sub-blocks 13E, 24D). It is not valid on the west coast where abalone populations are cryptic at much larger sizes than elsewhere, or where the time series of sampling is discontinuous, or where the sampling area is large and contains populations of greatly different average sizes.

8.4 Fishery performance by zone

Most of the Eastern Zone fits into the worst category of Table 2 with catch rates continuing to decline despite catches being significantly reduced. Even optimistically, this means that the fishable biomass has been reduced and is still falling. The worst outlook is that populations have declined, and even with further quota reductions, it may be many years before stocks rebuild. The most risk averse strategy now would be to decrease the TAC further.

Samples from the commercial catch provide evidence that in at least one sub-block (24D), the pre-recruit population has declined. Because of low numbers of samples, large spatial scales and an inadequate time series of data, it is not possible to confirm whether populations in other sub-blocks have declined. However, there is evidence that the stock decline at the Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, D and E) has affected only the fishable biomass, and that recruitment appears to be unaffected.

The blocks around the Tasman Peninsula appear to be affected to a lesser extent than elsewhere in the Eastern Zone, with the most stable levels of catch and catch rate. Unfortunately, these blocks provided less than 20 percent of the annual TAC.

In the Western Zone, Blocks 6, 9A, 9B, and 12 are performing at levels where the fishable biomass is probably falling. The status of Block 13 (A and B) is unclear, but fishable stocks here are probably falling. The level of catch should be reduced in these blocks. The remaining blocks, which account for almost 50 percent of the catch appear to be stable. TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 118 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Because of the recent creation of the Northern Zone, the time period over which trends are reviewed is short and they may therefore be unreliable.

In the North East, the status of Block 31 is unclear, but the rapid increase in catch and 2002’s lower catch rate indicates that this level of catch is probably unsustainable. In the adjacent Block 39, fishable stock levels are decreasing. The level of catch should be reduced in these blocks.

In the North West, fishable biomass in Blocks 5 and 48 is at best stable, but is probably decreasing. In Block 49, stock levels appear stable, but near shore stocks may be heavily exploited. On King Island, Block 3 appears to be providing stable levels of catch, while stock levels are falling in Block 4. In the Furneaux Group, the only significant producer of blacklip is Block 33, where stocks appear stable.

In the Greenlip fishery, Furneaux Group stocks appear to be stable, with Block 35 at a better level than it has been rated in Table 2 (its declining catches are not due to abundance levels but associated more with its remoteness). On King Island, stock levels seem to be stable, although indications from the north of the island (Blocks 1 and 2) are less certain.

In the North West, Blocks 5 and 49 are in the worst category with falling catches and catch rates. In the North East, fishable biomass is decreasing in Blocks 31 and 39. Catches are too erratic in Block 40 to classify. The level of catch should be reduced in these blocks. It is not possible to classify Block 48, where a recent size limit change may have affected catch rates.

8.5 Options available to managers

There are several options available to managers to deal with the current stock decline and each of these is discussed in detail below:

1. Reduce the TAC

Previously, managers have responded to falling stock levels by reducing the TAC. During the 1980’s, managers cut catch levels by at first small amounts, and then in 1989, by 30 percent. Although catch rates eventually rose some years later, there was no immediate response to these cuts from catch rates, even after the large reduction, and so it appears as though improving catch rates lag behind catch reductions. However, this is not necessarily so.

A relatively large TAC reduction is will leave significant amounts of uncaught abalone on the reef, and then the uncaught stocks should be available the following year and thus provide an immediate boost to catch rates. If a reduction in TAC is too small, catch rates will fail to respond, which clearly indicates that catch levels remain too high for the amount of fishable biomass. Although catches may be sustainable at low catch rates, there will be no opportunity for the build-up of biomass and the recovery of the fishery, and the stocks may be maintained at a low level or decline further. At low stock levels, populations (and not just fishable stocks) become depleted, with an increasing risk that areas of reef will change and stop producing abalone.

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The course of action available to managers then is to reduce the TAC by amounts that produce an increase in catch rates, indicative of stock rebuilding. This sounds simple, yet it is difficult to quantify an appropriate level of TAC reduction. The recent Eastern Zone reduction was slightly less than 24 percent, and it had no appreciable immediate effect on halting the catch-rate decline. How much further to reduce the TAC is not immediately obvious but from the arguments above a precautionary reduction would be the safest option.

If a TAC reduction was selected that was bigger than absolutely necessary, this would imply lost economic opportunity costs but would lead to a more rapid recovery. If too small a TAC reduction was applied, however, this could risk further, possibly catastrophic declines to previously unexperienced levels. These outcomes are a natural consequence when there is a mis-match of TAC with exploitable biomass.

The danger with reducing the TAC is that any upturn in abundance is missed, and the TAC is cut needlessly. However, by comparing monthly catch rates between years in the highest yielding sub-blocks it should be possible to detect small changes in abundance, although it is less certain how this translates to stock recovery. It should be noted that at the time of writing (end of April, 2003), severe marketing problems have greatly reduced fishing effort and consequently the Eastern Zone catch is approximately two thirds of that from the same period in 2002. In the south of the Eastern Zone, from where most of the catch has been taken, this has had a positive effect on catch rates, which have now stabilised.

2. Increase the size limit

The Eastern Zone size limit was increased by 4 mm in 2002 to levels that will offer more protection to populations under the terms of the two-year rule (the two year rule specifies that abalone must be allowed to breed for at least two years prior to entering the fishery). While we can see evidence of some beneficial effects of the size increase (e.g. increases in average size and weight of landed abalone, and divers reporting seeing more under-sized abalone), it is also understood that some areas that contain small abalone are reportedly producing less catch, while effort has been increased in areas with larger abalone with consequent adverse effects. TAFI researchers are currently studying spatial variation in size at maturity in southeast Tasmania, and should have improved knowledge of the effects of any further size-limit increase by the end of 2003. Until then, it is not known if further increases in size limit will benefit the fishery, either resulting in a more rapid recovery, or recovery to greater production levels than if size limit remained at the current level.

3. Local caps on catch

Limiting the annual catch by regions within zones has been used successfully in the greenlip fishery in recent years. However, the method does have limitations: the zonal TAC initially has to be set at an appropriate level, otherwise effort is merely transferred from a region with low stock levels to other regions with perhaps marginally greater stock levels, which in turn become depleted. It also relies upon the honesty of divers to report the source of their catches. There is anecdotal information that in 2002, some divers landed greenlip catches from one area but

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 120 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002 reported the catch as coming from a different another distant area. If the managers’ intent is to protect particular stocks, then clearly local caps will not work with misreported catches.

4. Seasonal closures

One of the reasons given for low catch rates in the Eastern Zone is that divers are compelled by both market demands and the distribution of quota to catch abalone in summer. Periodically, seasonal closures have been touted as a means of remedying some of the problems that exist in the Eastern Zone fishery, such as low summer catch rates. A seasonal closure has successfully operated in the greenlip fishery in Franklin Sound (Block 35) for a number of years.

In the Eastern Zone, a similar closure between October and April would probably increase average catch rates because divers would be less affected by heavy weed growth in the warmer months. However, the benefits of a seasonal closure for biological reasons are uncertain. Current evidence indicates that blacklip abalone spawn mostly between August and October, so a summer closure would be of little benefit in increasing egg production. Offsetting this, the condition of abalone would be enhanced because by April, recruits would weigh more, and the spawned abalone would have recovered. There are also, however, economic problems with closures: the demand for abalone for the Chinese New Year usually means high beach prices for smaller Eastern Zone abalone in January, which offsets the lower catch rates and poor recovery of the summer fishery. The recently dominant live- fish market is also dependent upon a constant supply of smaller abalone, and it is not known how it would be affected if forced to source blacklip solely from the Western Zone during summer.

Generally, a closed season that does not include the spawning season is unlikely to have any appreciable affect on fishable stock levels, and from a biological point of view, is not an option to halt falling stock levels. Closed seasons that include the spawning season will only have long-term benefits that should manifest over 6 to 8 year time scales.

5. Area closures

The option of closing areas off to the fishery is available to managers if they suspect that populations (as opposed to fishable stocks) are declining, and they cannot stop the decline by reducing the TAC. Unless stock levels in the surrounding region were buoyant, it would also require a TAC reduction by the amount that the closed area produced. The closure would be in effect for the period that it took fishable stock levels to increase to levels that managers deemed appropriate (note that this would be difficult to measure and quantify). Fishery closures presume that stocks will increase following cessation of fishing. Although this may be generally assumed, it does not necessarily follow. In other parts of the world, abalone populations have not recovered more than 10 years after legal fishing had ceased (Campbell, 1997).

6. Status quo (do nothing)

This is probably the riskiest option, for two reasons.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 121 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Firstly, there is much evidence that fishing stocks to low levels eventually causes declines in the rest of the population, from which recovery is uncertain e.g. Shepherd et al. (2001). The 2001 Tasmanian stock assessment (Tarbath et al., 2002) discussed the problem of the reduction of the area of abalone producing reef. In the 1980’s, catch rates and catches in parts of the East Coast with hitherto consistent yields slowly fell, and although during later years occasionally annual catches approached former levels, usually they were a fraction of that formerly produced. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable on the East Coast north of St Helens (Block 30), but also applies to the coast north of Bicheno (Block 28) and the western shore of Great Oyster Bay (Blocks 25 and 26). We believe that this coast has been lost to the fishery because fishery managers then were unaware of the extent of stock declines. When they became aware, and took action (i.e. introduction of quota based fishery in 1985), it was too late.

There are problems identifying localised population collapses as opposed to declines in fishable stock levels. Commercial divers tend to stop fishing in areas when catch rates fall too low. Subsequent population declines then go unnoticed because those divers concentrate on areas that hold abalone and avoid areas that do not. The current spatial scale of reporting of fishing activities (e.g. sub-block) is too large to identify changes at the site, reef or population level. Hence, it is only when annual catches are reviewed over a period of many years, and anecdotal information from fishers collated that losses to the fishery become apparent.

Secondly, because the problem of falling stock levels has been identified in this assessment, under the conditions that Environment Australia issues export permits for the industry, managers are bound to take action that will ensure that fishing mortality returns to sustainable levels (Kemp, 2002).

For both these reasons, doing nothing, or maintaining the status quo, is not an option that managers can consider when faced with good evidence of falling stock levels.

9. Recommendations for managers

In the Eastern Zone, a population decline is the only plausible explanation for falling catch rates in the presence of a significantly reduced TAC. A further reduction in the TAC would improve the chances of stock recovery.

A management strategy is required to trigger responses under circumstances of declining fishable biomass. A modelling framework is being developed to provide more precise management advice. Until that is completed the relationship between any specific TAC reduction and consequent stock recovery rate remains unknown and we can only rely on previous experience to manage the stock. The available evidence indicates that the Eastern Zone stock may be at levels lower than previously encountered. It would therefore be prudent to respond to these present circumstances.

The response of local stocks to effective collapse following overfishing has yet to be determined. We are ignorant about the ability of local stocks to recover once their

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 122 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002 numbers are taken down to very low levels: Are they lost forever or can they recover? We therefore recommend that Block 30 (St Helens to Eddystone Point) be closed temporarily to both commercial and recreational fishing to determine whether abalone populations there will recover and spread to the reefs from where they were formerly abundant. The amount of catch lost to the fishery would be slight (13 tonnes in 2001, 12 tonnes in 2002) but nevertheless, the TAC should be reduced by that amount to prevent that catch being taken elsewhere in the fishery. We have similar concerns about Blocks 24 (Maria Island) and 28 (North of Bicheno), but at present lack sufficient evidence to support their closure, and consequently suggest that a wait and see approach is appropriate here.

In the Western Zone, falling catch rates and catches suggest that it would be prudent to place annual catch limits (caps) on the catches in Blocks 6, 12 and 13. It is suggested that caps initially be set approximately equal to the 10 year average of catches for those blocks, or in the case of the Block 13 sub-blocks, to the three year average (this implies, Block 6: 140 tonnes, Block 12: 215 tonnes and Block 13: 60 tonnes). We anticipate that these levels would be reviewed in future assessments. The re-distributed catch (approximately 85 tonnes using 2002 catch levels) could be transferred from the capped blocks to the remaining part of the Western Zone where stock levels are higher. However, if a mechanism cannot be developed to prevent the displaced catch being taken from 9A and 9B (which would lead to serious depletion in these sub-blocks), then consideration should be given to reducing the Western Zone TAC by the required amount.

In the Northern Zone caps are also indicated for the North East (Blocks 31 and 39), and a review of caps in the North West. The North East cap should initially be set at levels below the 2002 catch, and the Block 5 catch in the North West maintained at 100 tonnes. While the current Block 5 cap seems reasonable, unless the remaining blocks are also capped, there is potential for unregulated amounts of catch to be taken from those blocks to the detriment of abalone populations present. If catch cannot be transferred offshore to King Island and the Furneaux Group, and this has not happened to sufficient extent since the advent of the Northern Zone, then the Northern Zone TAC should be reduced accordingly.

In the Greenlip fishery the level of catch needs to be reduced in the North West (Blocks 5, 48 and 49) and North East (Blocks 31, 39 and 40), but maintained at King Island and the Furneaux Group. The North West cap is currently 40 tonnes (which is less than the 10 year average), so if a relatively small reduction, for example 10 tonnes, is made, then catch and catch rates should be monitored to determine whether recovery occurs.

Divers are now reporting greater difficulty in achieving their expected catch rates in Sub-block 48A (Black Reef) and have suggested that the recently increased size limit is now too high. However, considering the level of fishing mortality there, this conflicts with the results of work by Officer (1999), which suggested that a minimum legal size limit of 143mm was necessary to ensure sufficient levels of egg production.

Similar patterns of decline are apparent in the North East and the cap (now 30 tonnes) should also be revised, as per the North West. Because there is no potential for the transfer of catch to other areas in the Greenlip fishery, the Northern Zone TAC would

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 123 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

need to be reduced by the amount that the North West and North East catches are reduced.

In the Recreational fishery, surveys indicate approximately three quarters of the estimated 70 tonne annual catch comes from the Eastern Zone. The sale of licenses reportedly continues to increase unabated at approximately 10 percent per annum. Recreational effort has the potential to undermine management attempts to halt stock declines, particularly in the more vulnerable parts of the East Coast. We recommend that managers investigate whether there are corresponding increased levels of recreational catch associated with the increasing number of recreational licenses.

The increases in TAC that started in1997 and the creation of zones in 2000 and 2001 have had a significant impact on stock levels. Not only are the more accessible stocks now more intensively fished, but also the likelihood that even the most remote stocks are fully exploited has increased. While managers have attempted to protect stocks from overfishing, this assessment has found that the spatial scale of management is still insufficient to prevent localised stock declines. This means that fishery managers need to manage the fishery more intensively, with an increased number of controls and regulations to ensure that adequate stock levels are sustained.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 124 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

References

Campbell, A. (1997). Possible criteria for reopening the northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) fishery in British Columbia, Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat, pp. 1-47. Nanaimo: Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Harrison, A. J. (1983). The Tasmanian abalone fishery. Tasmanian Fisheries Research 26, 1-42.

Kemp, D. M. (2002). Ministerial decision on the Tasmanian abalone fishery, Environment Australia. 5 February 2002, http://ea.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/assessment/tas/abalone/pubs/ea-letter.pdf, (20 May 2003).

Nash, W. J. (1995). The development of new techniques for assessing and managing the Australian abalone fisheries, Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation FRDC Grant 88/94. Hobart: Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Tasmania.

Officer, R. A. (1999). Size limits for greenlip abalone in Tasmania, Technical Report 5. Hobart: Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.

Shepherd, S. A., Rodda, K. R. and Vargas, K. M. (2001). A chronicle of collapse in two abalone stocks with proposals for precautionary management. Journal of Shellfish Research 20 (2), 843- 856.

Tarbath, D. B., Hodgson, K., Mundy, C. and Haddon, M. (2002). Tasmanian abalone fishery 2001, Fishery assessment report, pp. 137. Hobart: Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.

Worthington, D. G., Andrew, N. L. and Bentley, N. (1998). Improved indices of a catch rate in the fishery for blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in New South Wales, Australia. Fisheries Research 36, 87-97.

Acknowledgements

A draft copy of this assessment was provided to the Abalone Stock Assessment Group for comment (ABSAG). Specifically, ABSAG members were asked to comment on catch rates and trends (in particular any anomalies) in certain areas of the fishery with which they were most familiar. Information provided by ABSAG members was incorporated into this report. In 2003 the Abalone Stock Assessment Group included the following people:

Grant Pullen Principal Fisheries Management Officer, DPIWE

Dean Lisson President, Tasmanian Abalone Council

John Hoult Executive Member, Tasmanian Abalone Council

Robert Royle Chairman, Quota Holder Sub-Council

Allen Hansen Tasmanian Abalone Council

Steven Gasparinatos Chairman, Diver Sub-Council

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 125 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Greg Woodham Treasurer, Tasmanian Abalone Council

Nigel Wallace Secretary, Tasmanian Abalone Council

John Hayes Divers’ Representative, Tasmanian Abalone Council

Paddy Maguire Tasmanian Abalone Council

We also sort specific advice from a number of other people within the industry, including Charles Mason, Berkeley Dilworth, Neil Batey, Scott Palmer, Matt Debnam and Ron Schwanke.

We would like to thank all the above for the time and help that they provided to us.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 126 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Appendix 1: Annual Catches From The Western Zone 1975 - 2002.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within the statistical blocks and sub-blocks comprising the Western Zone in 2002. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights.

Year 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 1975 111 36 42 126 130 191 143 779 1976 64 56 77 255 179 240 154 1025 1977 53 24 23 123 98 153 189 663 1978 81 13 27 115 258 277 209 980 1979 115 19 23 172 166 269 325 1089 1980 197 81 63 316 195 338 351 1541 1981 264 89 87 444 260 417 246 1807 1982 147 34 34 249 100 303 235 1102 1983 231 102 58 199 175 431 242 1438 1984 309 78 40 248 284 682 258 1899 1985 327 99 23 246 140 479 155 1469 1986 213 97 11 134 127 289 194 1065 1987 185 84 44 251 82 339 195 1180 1988 244 53 27 160 126 276 162 1048 1989 193 49 46 120 110 212 145 875 1990 197 56 21 95 80 235 125 809 1991 169 54 30 102 106 219 140 820 1992 266 69 40 100 102 269 159 1005 1993 160 66 38 110 66 197 177 814 1994 82 37 38 78 60 200 160 655 1995 123 32 17 44 68 185 182 651 1996 113 68 13 59 81 145 148 627 1997 98 75 28 140 66 224 227 858 1998 129 51 27 78 44 165 202 696 1999 131 51 18 107 42 192 229 770 2000 183 61 23 205 148 333 286 54 1291 2001 0 212 32 15 185 152 311 290 43 1241 2002 2 173 51 17 174 143 359 236 93 1248

Average 1 170 58 34 166 128 283 206 63 1052

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 127 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Appendix 2: Annual Catches From The Eastern Zone 1975 - 2002.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within statistical blocks and sub-blocks comprising the Eastern Zone in 2002. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights. Prior to 2000, the catches for Blocks 13 and 31 include catch from outside the (now) Eastern Zone, which means that the average catch for these particular blocks is not necessarily correct.

Year 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Total 1975 247 111 10 48 12 0 16 27 49 74 15 16 5 44 69 16 45 39 843 1976 208 156 0 64 36 1 18 25 45 56 18 12 9 40 72 9 39 63 871 1977 245 232 2 190 13 1 23 35 37 53 11 10 9 55 90 22 122 60 1210 1978 322 218 6 120 24 1 32 65 60 88 22 13 11 93 87 25 137 113 1437 1979 374 251 8 148 25 2 51 52 43 30 10 23 7 80 52 12 107 71 1346 1980 272 255 7 145 30 1 33 30 42 46 158 34 7 108 91 27 148 109 1543 1981 254 299 18 127 48 4 45 69 35 77 137 19 15 68 154 22 146 58 1595 1982 337 218 15 147 24 3 36 62 63 49 97 21 9 89 100 32 171 75 1548 1983 255 300 10 189 28 3 43 63 55 92 99 31 14 100 105 66 298 113 1864 1984 318 297 18 166 35 5 47 70 73 61 109 10 11 106 112 53 149 126 1766 1985 256 262 4 89 83 11 69 80 43 44 120 20 17 86 71 5 91 225 1576 1986 221 262 22 82 93 4 65 67 70 56 88 13 20 50 58 14 126 203 1514 1987 225 229 7 47 80 1 43 44 32 34 66 12 8 77 45 11 68 86 1115 1988 219 258 6 76 57 4 62 44 43 34 79 10 6 65 52 16 96 132 1259 1989 156 172 2 56 43 2 61 42 22 16 34 7 8 41 31 11 41 49 794 1990 133 193 4 76 29 3 33 51 41 36 61 1 2 61 77 21 54 44 920 1991 127 207 2 60 37 3 53 50 47 31 67 2 9 64 66 12 30 42 909 1992 159 122 4 49 28 3 56 49 56 12 76 1 1 71 56 7 10 29 789 1993 271 121 4 107 47 1 67 79 49 24 75 1 1 87 39 8 15 24 1020 1994 300 148 10 118 65 2 122 85 62 17 57 0 3 104 24 8 11 34 1170 1995 313 256 2 106 35 4 108 78 41 21 43 0 1 81 19 6 11 50 1175 1996 392 195 0 80 18 3 74 55 44 29 69 3 6 90 39 11 28 31 1167 1997 470 137 0 64 25 2 79 49 47 32 106 1 13 190 32 32 23 50 1352 1998 483 109 1 116 23 2 85 64 63 44 160 2 25 182 77 31 10 19 1496 1999 474 66 1 106 34 6 97 61 47 53 139 0 9 94 60 24 10 43 1324 2000 381 98 2 71 29 4 62 60 69 44 104 1 8 101 16 21 10 102 1182 2001 324 157 3 108 20 2 56 50 40 24 111 1 14 68 9 27 13 79 1105 2002 296 101 1 72 16 1 62 58 46 15 46 0 2 53 7 15 12 44 847

Averag 287 194 6 101 37 3 57 56 49 43 78 9 9 84 61 20 72 75 1241 e

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 128 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Appendix 3: Annual Catches From The Northern Zone 1975 - 2002.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within statistical blocks comprising the Northern Zone in 2002. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights. There are no records for the Northern Zone part of Block 31 prior to the establishment of that zone in 2001.

Year 31 39 40 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 47 48 49 5 1 2 3 4 Total 1975 3 1 2 9 1770211293932 1 27 14 167 1976 5 0 0 6 01101112334639 1 51 8 205 1977 5 2 6 11 0020208175017 1 87 8 216 1978 8 2 1 5 26514310116521 3 56 25 228 1979 6 1 2 9 0011202778524 3 10 10 188 1980 3 1 2 6 1120001019251 3 33 3 209 1981 7 1 0 7 11020233912019 8 33 10 253 1982 5 1 0 5 00205145712123 9 27 13 264 1983 7 4 0 4 005149441922722 2 32 51 431 1984 5 3 0 7 112114814531111 1 34 55 563 1985 5 2 4 6 120004485031943 0 26 12 522 1986 10 5 1 9 2431115869726735 4 24 13 577 1987 6 1 0 7 0312118586819744 61 24 53 544 1988 2 2 1 11 1110018364116829 17 22 60 410 1989 1 0 0 4 010001416248814 7 10 5 184 1990 0 0 0 1 00000614208211 10 9 12 165 1991 1 0 0 2 0000081210976 7 13 27 183 1992 3 0 0 2 0000021011764 6 14 10 138 1993 0 0 0 3 001001676610 4 8 9 115 1994 0 0 0 3 000010611499 2 4 1 86 1995 0 0 1 1 000100626212 5 2 7 99 1996 0 0 0 0 00000040637 2 1 2 79 1997 1 0 0 0 00000052569 1 10 6 90 1998 0 1 0 2 00000063612 1 1 2 79 1999 4 1 0 2 000010134453 1 4 6 83 2000 5 2 1 5 0000001226450 0 10 10 117 2001 12 11 3 5 10 10003017721172 1 12 12 279 2002 30 4 3 1 11 100020124810310 2 35 16 278

Averag 21 4 1 1 5 011014232311118 6 22 16 241 e

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 129 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Appendix 4: Annual Catches From The Greenlip Fishery 1975 - 2002.

Annual tonnages of greenlip abalone caught within the statistical blocks comprising the Greenlip fishery in 2002. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights.

Year 31 39 40 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 47 48 49 5 1 2 3 4 Total 1975 7 3 4 3 17 14 49 69 14 11 0 72803 0 1 212 1976 14 2 9 1 26 11 55 49 2 10 0 8 6 14 0 0 0 0 207 1977 6 8 4 6 23 21 50 24 1 22 0 40 2 17 0 0 0 0 224 1978 8 1 2 4 12 17 51 38 7 17 1 13 3 12 1 3 0 2 192 1979 11 6 2 10 21 8 46 15440110800 0 0 146 1980 4 3 5 7 15 3 29 1344060503 0 0 101 1981 6 4 2 12 17 17 34 109031219012 0 4 152 1982 27 1 3 4 13 14 29 7992702014 0 2 143 1983 23 2 0 4 21 8 34 9 4 8 14 40 11909 0 5 201 1984 50 8 4 9 27 15 56 7 6 0 52 60 2 11 0 7 1 5 320 1985 53 5 4 9 20 15 42 4 7 7 12 363301 0 1 222 1986 39 8 7 4 14 7 36 2 10 0 57 35 14518 0 3 250 1987 32 12 1 8 20 10 30 8 10 7 37 33 3 8 13 125 5 69 431 1988 35 2 1 8 23 5 28 13 6 0 35 28 5 10 3 33 2 12 249 1989 22 5 2 4 16 2 22 10 3 0 20 2746170 3 10 227 1990 23 7 0 4 9 3 25 6 1 3 21 27 11 11 2 49 3 13 218 1991 20 6 0 4 7 2 31 6 3 0 13 32 6 12 2 29 3 16 192 1992 16 10 0 5 4 2 24 72041424318 1 8 124 1993 9 2 0 2 5 2 22 83022632117 0 9 113 1994 12 2 0 6 8 1 22 550348310425 0 7 161 1995 25 6 2 5 9 3 21 339523581410 0 13 164 1996 11 13 2 4 14 4 20 2 8 12 1 15 0 3 36 33 1 12 191 1997 17 22 1 8 13 1 12 4 11 15 1 28 3 6 35 33 0 6 216 1998 4 17 25 5 6 1 23 1222438143334 0 5 225 1999 6 2 4 2 17 1 15 1240181102125 1 10 141 2000 12 15 12 8 11 2 14 322024121324 1 3 140 2001 7 20 4 14 14 2 9 3100359388 1 2 140 2002 17 12 2 4 16 2 8 22902757116 1 9 139

Averag 18 7 4 6 15 7 30 1256102648721 1 8 194 e

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 130 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Appendix 5: Annual Total Catch, Effort and Mean Catch Rate, by State, Region, Block and Year.

Catch is shown in tonnes, by species. CPUE is the annual geometric mean of catch rates, for both species combined.

State-wide King Island (Blocks 1-4) 4500 350

) 4000 300 s

e 3500 n 3000 250

on 200

t 2500

( 2000 150

ch 1500 t 100 1000 Ca 500 50 0 0 )

s 70 5 r u 60 4

ho 50 0 40 3 00 '

( 30

t 2

or 20 f f 1

E 10 0 0 140 140 120 120 ) r 100 100 h /

g 80 80 k

( 60 60

UE 40 40 20 20 CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

West Coast North (Blocks 5 and 6) West and South-West (Blocks 7-12)

700 1600 )

s 600 1400 e

n 500 1200

on 1000 t 400 ( 800 300 ch

t 600 200 400 Ca 100 200 0 0 )

s 8 20 r 7 16 hou

6 5 12 000 '

( 4 t 8 or

f 3 f 4 E 2 1 0 200 200 160 160 ) r

h 120 120 / g k 80 80 (

UE 40 40

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 131 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

South East (Blocks 13-21) East Coast (Blocks 22-29) 1000 600 ) 800 500

nes 400 600 on t 300

h ( 400

c 200 t a 200

C 100 0 0

) 20 10 s ur 16 8 ho 12

000 6 '

( 8 t r

o 4 f

f 4 E 0 2 140 100 120 80 )

r 100 h / 60

g 80 k

( 60 40

UE 40 20 20 CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

North East (Blocks 30, 31, 39 & 40) Furneaux Group (Blocks 32-38)

400 200 )

es 300 160 onn

t 120

( 200

ch 80 t 100

Ca 40 0 0 )

s 7 4 r

u 6 3.5 ho 5 3 4 2.5 000 '

( 3 2 t r o

f 2 1.5 f

E 1 1 0 0.5 100 100 80 80 ) r

h 60 60 / g k 40 40 (

UE 20 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 132 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

North West (Blocks 47-49) 350

) 300

nes 250

on 200 t 150 h ( c t 100 a

C 50 0

) 5 s ur 4

ho 3 000 '

( 2 t r o f

f 1 E 0 140 120 ) r 100 h /

g 80 k

( 60

UE 40 20 CP 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 133 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 1 (King Island) Block 2 (King Island) 60 140

) 50 120

nes 40 100

on 80 t 30 60 h (

c 20 t 40 a

C 10 20 0 0

) 1 3 s

ur 0.8 2.5 ho 2 0.6

000 1.5 '

( 0.4 t

r 1 o f

f 0.2 0.5 E 0 0 100 100 80 80 )

hr 60 60 g/ k

( 40 40 E U

P 20 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 3 (King Island) Block 4 (King Island)

100 80 ) 70 es 80 60

onn 50 t 60

( 40

ch 40

t 30 20 Ca 20 10 0 0 )

s 1 2 r 0.8 1.6 hou

0.6 1.2 000 ' (

t 0.4 0.8 r o f f 0.2 0.4 E 0 0 140 100 120 80

) 100 r

h 60 / 80 g k 60 40 ( 40 UE 20 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 134 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 5 (West Coast North) Block 6 (West Coast North) 350 350

) 300 300

nes 250 250

on 200 200 t 150 150 h ( c t 100 100 a

C 50 50 0 0

) 4 4 s 3.5 ur 3.5 3 ho 3

2.5 2.5

000 2 ' 2 (

t 1.5 r 1.5 o 1 f f 1

E 0.5 0 0.5 140 160 120 140 ) 100 120 hr 100

g/ 80

k 80 ( 60 60 E

U 40 40 P 20 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 7 (West & South-west) Block 8 (West & South-west)

100 90 ) 80 es 80 70 60 onn t 60 50 ( 40 ch 40 t 30

Ca 20 20 10 0 0 )

s 1.2 1 r 1 0.8 hou 0.8 0.6 000

' 0.6 ( t 0.4 r 0.4 o f f 0.2

E 0.2 0 0 200 200 160 160 ) r

h 120 120 / g k 80 80 (

UE 40 40

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 135 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 9 (West & South-west) Block 10 (West & South-west) 450 350

) 400 300 350 nes 300 250

on 200

t 250 200 150 h (

c 150 t 100 a 100 C 50 50 0 0

) 4 3 s 3.5 ur 2.5 3 ho 2.5 2

000 2 1.5 ' (

t 1.5

r 1

o 1 f

f 0.5

E 0.5 0 0 200 200 180 160 160 ) 140 hr 120 120 g/

k 100 ( 80 80 E 60 U

P 40 40

C 20 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 11 (West & South-west) Block 12 (West & South-west)

700 400 ) 600 350 es 500 300

onn 250 t 400 ( 200 300 ch

t 150 200 100 Ca 100 50 0 0 )

s 8 4 r 7 3.5

hou 6 3

5 2.5 000

' 4 2 ( t

r 3 1.5 o f

f 2 1

E 1 0.5 0 0 200 160

160 120 ) r

h 120 /

g 80 k 80 ( 40 UE 40

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 136 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 13 (South East) Block 14 (South East) 600 350

) 500 300 nes 400 250

on 200 t 300 150 h ( c 200 t 100 a

C 100 50 0 0

) 8 8 s 7 7 ur 6 6 ho 5 5

000 4 4 ' (

t 3 3 r o 2 2 f f

E 1 1 0 0 100 80 80 ) 60 hr 60 g/

k 40 ( 40 E

U 20

P 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 15 (South East) Block 16 (South East)

30 200 )

es 25 150 20 onn t

( 15 100 ch t 10 50 Ca 5 0 0 )

s 0.5 4 r 3.5 0.4 hou 3

0.3 2.5 000

' 2 ( t 0.2 r 1.5 o f f 0.1 1 E 0.5 0 0 100 80 70 80 60 ) r

h 60 50 / g 40 k 40 ( 30 20 UE 20 10 CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 137 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 17 (South East) Block 18 (SouthEast) 100 10 ) 80 8 nes 60 6 on t

h ( 40 4 c t a 20 2 C 0 0

) 3 0.06 s

ur 2.5 ho 2 0.04

000 1.5 ' ( t

r 1 0.02 o f

f 0.5 E 0 0 80 100 80 ) 60 hr 60 g/

k 40 ( 40 E

U 20

P 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 19 (South East) Block 20 (South East)

12 140 ) 120 es 10 8 100 onn t 80 ( 6 60 ch t 4 40 Ca 2 20 0 0 )

s 0.3 2 r 0.25 1.6 hou 0.2 1.2 000

' 0.15 (

t 0.8 r 0.1 o f f 0.4

E 0.05 0 0 160 80 70 120 60 ) r

h 50 /

g 80 40 k

( 30 40 20 UE 10 CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 138 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 21 (South East) Block 22 (East Coast) 80 80

) 70 70 60 60 nes 50 50 on t 40 40

h ( 30 30 c t

a 20 20

C 10 10 0 0

) 1.5 2 s

ur 1.2 1.6 ho 0.9 1.2 000 '

( 0.6 0.8 t r o f

f 0.3 0.4 E 0 0 80 80

) 60 60 hr g/

k 40 40 ( E

U 20 20 P C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 23 (East Coast) Block 24 (East Coast)

100 180 ) 90 160 es 80 140 70 120 onn t 60 100 ( 50 80 ch 40 t 30 60

Ca 20 40 10 20 0 0 )

s 3 2.8 r 2.5 2.4 hou 2 2 1.6 000

' 1.5

( 1.2 t r 1 o

f 0.8 f

E 0.5 0.4 0 0 80 100 70 60 80 ) r 50 h 60 /

g 40 k 40 ( 30 20 UE 20 10 CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 139 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 25 (South East) Block 26 (East Coast) 40 40 ) 30 30 nes on t 20 20 h ( c t

a 10 10 C 0 0

) 1 1 s

ur 0.8 0.8 ho 0.6 0.6 000 '

( 0.4 0.4 t r o f

f 0.2 0.2 E 0 0 120 100 100 80 )

hr 80 60 g/

k 60 ( 40 E 40 U

P 20 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 27 (East Coast) Block 28 (East Coast)

200 180 )

es 160 150 120 onn

t 120

( 90

ch 80 t 60

Ca 40 30 0 0 )

s 3 2.5 r 2.5 2 hou 2 1.5 000

' 1.5 (

t 1 r 1 o f f 0.5

E 0.5 0 0 100 100 80 80 ) r

h 60 60 / g k 40 40 (

UE 20 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 140 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 29 (East Coast) Block 30 (North East) 70 300 ) 60 250 nes 50 200

on 40 t 150 30 h ( c 100 t 20 a

C 10 50 0 0

) 1.5 6 s ur 1.2 5 ho 4 0.9

000 3 '

( 0.6 t

r 2 o f f 0.3 1 E 0 0 100 80 80 ) 60 hr 60 g/

k 40 ( 40 E

U 20

P 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 31 (North East) Block 32 (Furneaux Group)

180 20 ) es 150 16 120 onn t 12

( 90

ch 8 t 60

Ca 30 4 0 0 )

s 5 0.5 r 4 0.4 hou

3 0.3 000 ' ( t 2 0.2 r o f f 1 0.1 E 0 0 100 100 80 80 ) r

h 60 60 / g k 40 40 (

UE 20 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 141 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 33 (Furneaux Group)Block 34 (Furneaux Group) 30 30 ) 25 25

nes 20 20 on t 15 15 h (

c 10 10 t a

C 5 5 0 0

) 1 1 s

ur 0.8 0.8 ho 0.6 0.6 000 '

( 0.4 0.4 t r o f

f 0.2 0.2 E 0 0 80 100 80 ) 60 hr 60 g/

k 40 ( 40 E

U 20

P 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 35 (Furneaux Group) Block 36 (Furneaux Group)

60 80 ) 70

es 50 60 40 onn 50 t

( 30 40 ch t 20 30 20 Ca 10 10 0 0 )

s 1.5 1 r 1.2 0.8 hou

0.9 0.6 000 ' (

t 0.6 0.4 r o f f 0.3 0.2 E 0 0 80 100

60 80 ) r

h 60 /

g 40 k 40 ( 20 UE 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 142 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 37 (Furneaux Group)Block 38 (Furneaux Group) 20 30 ) 16 25 nes 20 12 on t 15

h ( 8 c 10 t a 4

C 5 0 0

) 0.5 0.5 s ur 0.4 0.4 ho 0.3 0.3 000 '

( 0.2 0.2 t r o f

f 0.1 0.1 E 0 0 100 120 80 100 )

hr 80 60 g/

k 60 ( 40 E 40 U

P 20 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 39 (North East) Block 40 (North East)

25 30 ) es 20 25 20 onn t 15

( 15

ch 10 t 10

Ca 5 5 0 0 )

s 1 0.5 r 0.8 0.4 hou

0.6 0.3 000 ' ( t 0.4 0.2 r o f f 0.2 0.1 E 0 0 80 100

60 80 ) r

h 60 / g 40 k 40 ( 20 UE 20

CP 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 143 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2002

Block 47 (North West) Block 48 (North West) 80 100 ) 60 80 nes 60 on t 40

h ( 40 c t a 20 20 C 0 0

) 1.5 2 s

ur 1.2 1.6 ho 0.9 1.2 000 '

( 0.6 0.8 t r o f

f 0.3 0.4 E 0 0 80 120 100

) 60

hr 80 g/

k 40 60 (

E 40

U 20

P 20 C 0 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 year year

Block 49 (North West)

100 )

es 80 onn

t 60 (

ch 40 t

Ca 20 0 )

s 1.5 r 1.2 hou

0.9 000 ' (

t 0.6 r o f f 0.3 E 0 120 100 )

r 80 h /

g 60 k

( 40

UE 20

CP 0 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02

year

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 144