ISSN 1441-8487

FISHERY ASSESSMENT REPORT

TASMANIAN ABALONE FISHERY 2003

Compiled by David Tarbath, Craig Mundy and Malcolm Haddon

July 2004

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 2004.

Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Executive summary

The 2003 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 and effort data were supplied by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment. These data were obtained from catch dockets provided by licensed divers. Catch rates were derived from the catch-effort data 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 2003 the Eastern, Western, Northern and Bass Strait 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 separate total allowable catch (TAC), legal minimum size and in some cases, localised annual catch limits (caps). In 2003, the TAC from all parts of the fishery was 2607.5 tonnes.

The 2003 fishery included an increase of 70 tonnes over the previous year’s TAC, due to the development of the fishery for smaller abalone in central Bass Strait. This region was previously fished under strict controls that included smaller size limits, limited (less than one month) access and fixed levels of quota. After limited openings in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995, stock levels became depleted and between 1995 and 2003 the small size-limit fishery remained closed. In 2003, the region was incorporated into the Tasmanian fishery as a management zone to be fished year-round with a size limit of 114 mm.

Although parts of the Bass Strait Zone have previously supported large catches, it is apparent that high levels of effort directed at small areas have had adverse consequences, e.g. the Kent Group in 1995. In 2003, more than half the Bass Strait TAC was taken at the Hogan Group, which is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. It is considered that the 70 tonne TAC will only be sustainable if effort is more widely distributed, specifically to Flinders Island and the Tasmanian mainland, rather than focussed on small and isolated sections of coastline.

Previous assessments have documented a concern over declining stock levels in the Eastern Zone. In 2001, declining catch rates and catches led to a substantial reduction in the Eastern Zone TAC from 1120 tonnes to 857.5 tonnes in 2002. In addition to the TAC reduction, the size limit was increased by 4 mm to 136 mm, in order to provide protection of the breeding population in line with the Abalone Management Plan objectives. A cap on catch for the fishery in the Actaeons region was also implemented by managers to limit over-exploitation of specific abalone stocks. Despite these efforts, catch rates continued to decline in 2002. In 2003, catch rates in the Eastern Zone were broadly similar to 2002 with some smaller areas showing marginal increases or

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page i Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003 decreases. Thus stock levels (as inferred from catch and catch-effort data) in many parts of the Eastern Zone in 2003 were severely depleted, and remained below the levels in 2001 that had led to the initial Industry driven reduction in TAC. The Interim Assessment of September 2003 found no evidence of widespread stock recovery, and the recommendation from the 2002 Annual Assessment that the TAC be further reduced was implemented for the 2004 fishing year.

This assessment shows that stock levels have remained low in all parts of the Eastern Zone. Of particular concern is the East Coast (Tasman Island to Musselroe Point). The reduced levels of catch, in conjunction with falling catch rates, indicate that whole populations (i.e. not just the fishable biomass) were declining. The reduced level of effort here (and consequently catch) affects the reliability of CPUE trends as an index of abundance as too few records are obtained for any single area. However, on the few areas of the coast where consistent fishing occurred and where accurate assessment was more certain, observed catch rates, although initially high, progressively fell over a short period despite the small catch. Similar patterns were observed of catches taken from Bruny Island, particularly its eastern side (Block 16). There was no certainty that stock levels in these two regions had stabilised, which suggests depletion is continuing.

At the Actaeons and Storm Bay, it was concluded that stock levels are no longer falling. Catch levels were maintained and catch rates had increased slightly in some sub-blocks, which may indicate recovery in these areas. The two regions continue to be fished at high levels, with catch largely unchanged since 2001, despite the reduction in TAC in 2002. Should the TAC reduction in 2004 reduce the catch taken from these regions, further additional evidence of stock recovery may be expected. If unequivocal and widespread signs of recovery are not evident by September 2004, then further reductions in TAC must be considered for 2005, with appropriate management of effort within the Eastern Zone. If stock levels from parts of the East Coast and Bruny Island continue to decline, it is recommended that they be quarantined from the fishing area.

Stock levels appear to be high in many parts of the Western Zone, particularly in the more remote sections between South West Cape and Sandy Cape. In many parts of this Zone, the clumped distribution of abalone combined with low diver visitation rates made CPUE unreliable as an index of abundance. In these areas, there was a reliance on the observations of divers, and on the relatively high absolute value of CPUE compared with other areas with lower CPUE where stock levels are known to be sound.

Effort has been transferred from parts of the Western Zone where stock levels are weaker to the more robust areas, particularly Block 10 in the South West region and Block 7 in the Central West. An unprecedented level of catch was landed from Block 7 which will be of concern should high levels of catch be landed again in 2004. Catch trends in this block will require monitoring. In the North West (Block 6), catches and catch rates have trended downwards for several years. In the more accessible parts of this block, catch rates have fallen to 80 kg/hr, while the annual catch fell to 97 tonnes, from 173 tonnes in 2002. While stocks are obviously depleted here, the reduction in catch appears largely due to divers seeking better catch rates elsewhere. The fishery in this block requires careful monitoring. In the more accessible parts of Block 9, where catch rates had been steadily falling, the annual catch has dropped as divers moved to the South West or Block 7. On the South Coast, catch rates have improved with a reduction in effort and catch to more sustainable levels.

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Northern Zone landings from North East Tasmania and the Furneaux Group have fallen to negligible (< 20 tonnes) levels. This was due more to the remoteness of the Furneaux Group, market preferences for abalone from other regions and a shift in effort to King Island than large-scale depletion of stocks, although stock levels in the North East have been reduced. The North West continued to provide most of the Northern Zone catch (160 tonnes). In Block 5, catch rates have stabilised at moderate levels (~ 80 kg/hr), and the local cap of 100 tonnes implemented in 2002 to limit the depleting effects of intensive levels of effort, was not reached. Catch from Block 49 has increased, much of it taken from remote parts of the block, where catch rates were high. The catch from King Island has increased by more than 50% to 98 tonnes since the previous year. Although this catch was only slightly above the long term average taken at the 127-mm size limit (94 tonnes), most of it was taken from the western part of the island. Here catch rates were initially high, but fell quickly, indicating that stocks were being fished in an unsustainable manner. It was reported that abalone from Block 2 were now too small to fish at economical catch rates, and consequently, the sustainable catch from the island may now be less than was estimated during the development of the Northern Zone. The expected catch from King Island may need to be revised downward in the near future, if effort becomes more focused and catch rates decline.

The greenlip fishery comprises four main regions, each (except King Island) with a regional cap. In the two mainland regions (North West and North East), catch rates have fallen, and stocks were almost certainly being depleted. Because of the nature of the fishery (changes in catchability, clustering of abalone along sand edges and serial depletion of reefs) it is considered that catch rates are unreliable indices of abundance, and that abundance is falling at a faster rate than indicated by catch-rate trends.

The North West greenlip fishery has been complicated by the recent size limit increase, which has reportedly made the slow growing stock at Black Reef difficult to fish. This has encouraged divers to fish elsewhere in the region transferring additional effort to the remaining fully exploited stocks. The North West cap was reduced from 40 tonnes to 30 tonnes in 2004. This may be insufficient and inconsequential as the catch did not reach the limit in 2003 and divers preferred to fish in other regions. In contrast the cap in the North East was overrun by 5 tonnes, the total catch being 35 tonnes. Divers reported that this level of catch was too high for the short North East coastline, and that depletion was widespread. The 30 tonne limit was calculated from the average of annual catches since 1975, the larger ones of which were almost certainly unsustainable. A lower catch limit in the North East greenlip fishery should be considered. On King Island, while rising catches and stable catch rates indicate a stable fishery, divers there also reported depletion of reefs, and said that the annual catch was too high. Only in the Furneaux Group did divers consider that the fishery was stable, with stocks apparently recovering after management intervention.

Recommendations from this report

• The increases in TAC that started in 1997 and the subsequent creation of zones have had a significant impact on stock levels. Further adjustments of both TAC and size limits are required in some areas. This assessment has found that the spatial scale of management is still insufficient to prevent localised stock declines. This means that the fishery may need to be managed more

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page iii Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

conservatively, perhaps with an increased number of controls and regulations to ensure that adequate stock levels are sustained.

• The reliance upon catch and effort data to monitor trends in abundance has been demonstrated to be inappropriate, and reliance on CPUE has been associated with the collapse of many abalone fisheries elsewhere in the world. The inadequacy of this method in many parts of the Tasmanian fishery is stressed, and it is strongly recommended that a fishery-independent abundance survey program to supplement the CPUE-based fishery assessment is implemented.

• If by September 2004 in the Eastern Zone signs of recovery are not seen from either the East Coast between Tasman Island and Musselroe Point, or eastern Bruny Island, or catch rates at the Actaeons or Storm Bay fail to show broad improvement, then additional management responses will be required.

• It is again recommended that Block 30 (St Helens to Eddystone Point) be closed temporarily to abalone fishing. While commercial divers have effectively abandoned the region, recreational fishers continue to deplete the more accessible stocks.

• Given the current state of the Eastern Zone, it is recommended that a rebuilding strategy be developed, identifying catch and catch-rate goals to be achieved within a specific time frame.

• In the Western Zone it is recommended that the performance of Blocks 6, 7 and 8 be reviewed in September 2004. CPUE declines need to be monitored to ensure there is not a second year of excessive catch. If indications of depletion become evident, management must respond to limit catches to a more sustainable level.

• In the Northern Zone, King Island is probably now producing blacklip at or beyond maximum capacity. It is recommended that a review be undertaken of size limits and yield for the King Island blacklip fishery to assess the ability of the region to provide current levels of catch.

• In the Greenlip fishery, it is strongly recommended that management reviews catch and size limits in the North East, North West and King Island. Options for making slower or smaller growing stocks available to the fishery once more should be explored.

• In the Bass Strait Zone, although the fishery is in its infancy, a watching brief is required for Hogan Island.

• For the Recreational fishery, it is recommended that management monitor increased levels of recreational catch associated with the rapidly increasing number of recreational licenses.

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TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page v Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... I

1. INTRODUCTION...... 1

2. THE USE OF FISHERY DATA TO INFER CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE ...... 2

3. CATCH, CATCH-RATE AND SIZE-COMPOSITION FIGURES ...... 6 EASTERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS...... 6 EASTERN ZONE-ACTAEONS (SUB-BLOCKS 13C, 13D, 13E, 14A, 14B)...... 7 EASTERN ZONE-BRUNY ISLAND (BLOCKS 14C, 14D, 14E, 15, 16)...... 15 EASTERN ZONE-STORM BAY (BLOCKS 17-21)...... 22 EASTERN ZONE-EAST COAST (BLOCKS 22–31) ...... 29 WESTERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS...... 46 WESTERN ZONE-NORTH WEST (SUB-BLOCK 5D, BLOCK 6) ...... 46 WESTERN ZONE-CENTRAL WEST (BLOCKS 7, 8 AND 9)...... 50 WESTERN ZONE-SOUTH WEST (BLOCKS 10 AND 11)...... 54 WESTERN ZONE-SOUTH COAST (BLOCK 12, SUB-BLOCKS 13A, 13B)...... 60 NORTHERN ZONE BLACKLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS...... 65 NORTHERN ZONE-KING ISLAND (BLOCKS 1-4)...... 65 NORTHERN ZONE-NORTH WEST (BLOCKS 47 – 49, SUB-BLOCKS 5A, 5B, 5C)...... 69 NORTHERN ZONE-NORTH EAST (BLOCKS 39, 40, SUB-BLOCK 31B)...... 74 NORTHERN ZONE-FURNEAUX GROUP (BLOCKS 32-38)...... 76 GREENLIP FISHERY – MAJOR FISHING BLOCKS ...... 77 GREENLIP-KING ISLAND (BLOCKS 1-4) ...... 77 GREENLIP-NORTH WEST (BLOCKS 47-49, 5)...... 79 GREENLIP-NORTH EAST (BLOCKS 31, 39, 40) ...... 81 GREENLIP-FURNEAUX GROUP (BLOCKS 32-38)...... 83 4. ASSESSMENT OF THE TASMANIAN ABALONE FISHERY ...... 86 EASTERN ZONE...... 86 WESTERN ZONE...... 92 NORTHERN ZONE...... 96 GREENLIP FISHERY ...... 98 REGIONAL SUMMARY: ...... 102 5. OTHER FISHERIES...... 104 RECREATIONAL FISHERY ...... 104 INDIGENOUS, ILLEGAL AND PERMIT FISHERIES...... 104 6. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGERS ...... 105 APPENDIX 1: INTERPRETING GRAPHICAL INFORMATION ...... 109 APPENDIX 2: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE WESTERN ZONE 1975 - 2003...... 114 APPENDIX 3: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE EASTERN ZONE 1975 - 2003...... 115 APPENDIX 4: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE NORTHERN ZONE 1975 - 2003...... 116 APPENDIX 5: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE GREENLIP FISHERY 1975 - 2003...... 117 APPENDIX 6: ANNUAL CATCHES FROM THE BASS STRAIT ZONE 1975 - 2003...... 118 APPENDIX 7: HISTORY OF CHANGES TO THE FISHERY...... 119 APPENDIX 8: HISTORY OF ANNUAL CATCH, EFFORT AND CATCH RATE...... 126 APPENDIX 9. MAPS OF BLOCKS AND SUB-BLOCK BOUNDARIES...... 139

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page vi Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

1. Introduction

The Tasmanian abalone fishery is assessed using information produced from divers’ catch dockets, and length measurements 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 four year period (sub-block level).

In 2003, the abalone fishery was managed as five zones, each with a TAC (total allowable catch). The blacklip fishery was divided into Northern, Eastern, Western and Bass Strait Zones, the greenlip fishery comprising the fifth zone. For the purposes of this assessment, each zone has been divided into regions (Figure 1).

The information used to assess fishery performance in this report is shown as a series of charts, of either catch and catch rates, or the size composition of divers’ catches. Within each region, catch and length data have been grouped at sub-block or block levels. At each level, charts have been produced showing variation in catch, catch rates and size composition throughout the review period. These charts were presented to the industry and government representatives of the Abalone Stock Assessment Group (AbSAG). With their specialised knowledge, together with input from a number of other fishers, trends in catch, catch rates and size composition of catches were used to infer changes in abundance. This information was collated by region and detailed assessments of stock levels have been produced for each zone. The report concludes with a list of recommendations to managers based upon these assessments.

This report contains a number of appendices. Appendix 1 contains information about the charts used in this report. Appendices 2 to 6 list historical catches by zone by block. Appendix 7 contains a history of management changes and Appendix 9 contains maps of the block and sub-block boundaries used to report the fishery.

Landed Catches, 2003

At the end of 2003, annual landings comprised 2464.1 tonnes of blacklip and 139.9 tonnes of greenlip (Table 1). In 2002 the Eastern Zone TAC was reduced from 1120 tonnes to 857.5 tonnes. The sum of all TAC’s in 2003 was 2607.5 tonnes.

Table 1. 2003 landings by zone, in tonnes Zone 2003 TAC 2003 Landings Greenlip 140.0 139.667 Eastern Blacklip 857.5 855.499 Northern Blacklip 280.0 279.183 Western Blacklip 1260.0 1259.951 Bass Strait 70.0 69.505

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 1 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

55 53 Northern Zone 54 Northern Zone 56 52 51 57 1 2 King Island Bass Strait 50 37 38 3 Furneaux 4 Zone Group 34 36 35 49 32 48 47 33

46 40 39 45 42 41 31 5 44 43 North West North East 30 6

29

Western Zone 7 East Zone Eastern Central Coast 28 8 West 26 27 9 25

South Storm 24 10 West Bay 23 18 19 17 Actaeons 22 11 15 South 20 16 21 Coast 14

12 13 Bruny Island

Figure 1. Statistical blocks and zones used for catch reporting in the Tasmanian abalone fishery in 2003. Also shown are the regions used for assessment purposes in this document. Zones and zone boundaries may change from year to year. Zone boundaries are shown as dotted lines. The Greenlip fishery has no geographical boundaries, but mostly takes place on coasts included in the Northern and Bass Strait Zones.

2. 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, both catch distribution and catch rates. It relies upon the assumption that trends in catch-rates accurately reflect changes in abundance of the fishable stock. Despite CPUE being much discredited as an index of abalone abundance (e.g. Breen (1992), Prince (1992), Shepherd et al. (2001)) it has been used for many years in the Tasmanian fishery, with some success, as illustrated by the strongly

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 2 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003 declining catch rates in the Eastern Zone coinciding with its currently depressed state. There are three factors that adversely affect the relationship between CPUE and abalone abundance: gregarious behaviour of abalone, serial depletion of local populations constituting the stock, and changes in catchability of abalone. If the effects of these factors are understood and can be minimized then the reliability of CPUE as an index of abundance can be improved.

Gregarious behaviour

Abalone tend to aggregate in favourable habitat (gutters, sand-edges, shallow margins), and a large proportion of abalone may be found in only a small area of each reef (Prince, 1992). When these aggregations are fished, the remaining abalone tend to form new aggregations (Officer et al., 2000), and thus reefs may become depleted while catch rates are maintained (McShane, 1995; Officer et al., 2000). Similar problems among other commercially fished marine species are well documented (e.g. Hilborn and Walters (1992), also see Rose and Kulka (1999) for a recent review).

Where abalone abundance is high and abalone are aggregated, catch rates are primarily a function of handling time (the time taken to detach abalone from the reef and transfer them to the boat). As abalone abundance decreases, and aggregations become smaller and further apart, search time increases, and adds significantly to the overall effort required. This makes the relationship between abalone abundance and CPUE non- linear, and by the time catch rates start to decline rapidly abalone abundance will already have been greatly depressed (Prince, 1992).

A related problem occurs when divers search for favourable habitats, and the aggregations in them. Time spent searching for aggregations is only weakly related to the number of individuals landed, and catch rates do not necessarily decline at the same rate as the abundance of aggregations (Breen, 1992). Under these circumstances, catch rates are again unreliable, and extra care is needed when attempting to interpret such information.

Where abalone abundance is low, because of the aggregating behaviour the most favourable habitats can accommodate most of the population and the surrounding areas may be relatively sparsely populated. Provided effort is also low (i.e. diver visitation rates are low), legal-sized abalone move to the favourable habitat (Shepherd and Partington, 1995; Officer et al., 2000) between fishing events. Experienced divers can maintain catch rates by fishing the most favourable areas (Shepherd and Partington, 1995), and the CPUE/abundance relationship is again non-linear.

Serial depletion

Serial depletion of reefs occurs when divers progressively reduce stock abundance on individual reefs while maintaining stable catch rates by moving between reefs (Prince and Shepherd, 1992). Reefs are abandoned when divers find it harder to maintain levels of daily catch, and they move to reefs with higher stock levels. When there are many reefs with low levels of abundance in a reporting block, divers can move between reefs, depleting stocks levels in each, while producing stable but relatively low levels of annual catch at stable catch rates.

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If management units are large and catch reporting occurs over large spatial scales, falling catch rates caused by depletion of individual reefs are masked when divers transfer effort to reefs with higher levels of abundance. If catch reporting occurred at the scale of individual reefs, the fall in CPUE that precipitated the divers’ movements and the fall in catch indicative of depletion might be detected. In Tasmania, even the recently introduced sub-block scale of reporting (Appendix 9) is much too large to detect such fine scale falls in CPUE.

Regular patterns observed in the spatial distribution of catch from Tasmania’s East Coast appear to indicate that provided effort is low enough, stock levels on the reefs first depleted may recover sufficiently to support further fishing, thus developing a cycle of depletion and recovery. Analyses of catch data reveals historically low levels of annual catch, which may appear stable in the short term, but fall slowly over a period of years, presumably as reefs become less productive (i.e. the period between depletion and recovery is greater than the period between fishing events). Examples include Blocks 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30. Catch rates under this scenario typically appear stable, or with improvements in diver efficiency, may rise slowly.

Change in catchability

The detection and avoidance of difficulties associated with changes in catchability, or effort creep is a continuing problem when catch rates are used to assess fisheries. One of the features of modern fisheries is that fishermen find ways to make their operations more efficient, and the abalone fishery has been no exception. Thus, because of improved efficiency, if stock levels are unchanged, more abalone can be collected for any given period of time now than in the past. 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.

Early in the history of the Tasmanian abalone 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. It was estimated that the catching efficiency of divers doubled between the start of the fishery and 1982 (Harrison, 1983).

Possibly the greatest single improvement occurred during the late 1980’s when divers widely adopted the practise of attaching their collecting nets to ropes 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. However, the effects of this are not constant across all abalone densities. At low levels of abundance, divers may finish swimming over a reef before their net is full, so the method offers no improvement. At the other extreme, when nets are being filled every few minutes because abalone are particularly abundant, the method offers great savings in time i.e. the method causes catch rates to change non-linearly with abundance.

Catchability may change in less overt ways, unrelated to technological changes. Competition between divers for fish or quota, or inducements offered by processors, or management changes, may all improve the way divers work (Gorfine, 2001). Divers as a group may learn how to fish an area more effectively (Breen, 1992). Daily catches may increase when divers realise they are catching at a high rate, leading to a correlation between high catch rates and larger catches. (Worthington et al., 1998).

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These types of changes are more difficult to detect and take into account than changes in fishing methods.

In fact, both forms of change in catchability are extremely difficult to quantify. 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. This assessment reviews catch rate trends primarily over the last 10 years, but with particular attention paid to the last four years. By reducing the period over which comparisons are made, we are more likely to detect or avoid changes to fishing methods or diver behaviour, and are more confidant that catch rate trends represent changes in abundance, not changes in fishing power.

Circumstances when catch rates are reliable indices of abalone abundance

When problems caused by abalone aggregations, serial depletion and variable catchability are understood and their effects negated, catch rates can more accurately reflect abundance. For example, in the NSW blacklip fishery, high visitation and exploitation rates preclude both serial depletion and the formation of aggregations of legal sized abalone. Researchers there have concluded that catch rates had become a reliable index of abundance (Andrew et al., 1997; Worthington et al., 1998). Similarly, in parts of Tasmania, as in the Actaeons, where it is known that diver visitation rates to reefs are high (i.e. restrict the formation of aggregations), divers are not able to maintain levels of catch and catch rates by successively depleting reefs (all reefs support continuous levels of effort), and the effect of effort creep is reduced by limiting the review period to years when diving methodology was unchanged, we assume that catch rate trends are indicative of changes in abundance.

It now appears that these conditions are met in parts of the Eastern Zone fishery from where most of the catch is taken, particularly the Actaeons and Storm Bay regions, and the more heavily fished parts of the Northern and Western Zone fisheries in North West Tasmania and the South Coast. However, there are many parts of the Tasmanian fishery where these conditions cannot be met, and assessment of these areas based on catch rates must be viewed with caution. The following cases are discussed:

We assume that abalone abundance remains high in parts of the Western Zone (South West and Central West), the Northern Zone (King Island and the remote part of Block 49) and the Bass Strait Zone given the high catch rates reported from these regions. Because diver visitation rates to these areas are low, and abalone form aggregations, more credence may be placed on absolute values of catch rates. We conclude that stocks levels are high, because catch rates are relatively high compared with other parts of the fishery that we know to be sound. In addition, more reliance has been placed on divers with catch history in those areas to advise us about trends in abundance.

Much of the Eastern Zone fishery, particularly parts of the East Coast, has low levels of abundance, and low levels of effort. We are aware that in recent years, catch levels have been dependent upon divers rotating effort and successively depleting reefs on much of the coast between Triabunna and Eddystone Point (Blocks 25 – 30). Most of Tasmania’s greenlip fishery also falls into this category. Throughout southern Australia, fishery managers have a long history of monitoring greenlip fisheries using fishery catch and effort data with a notable lack of success. The Victorian fishery collapsed, and fisheries in South Australia (Shepherd et al., 2001), Western Australia

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(Hart et al., 1999), and Tasmania (Officer, 1999) have all wiped out greenlip populations because CPUE trends provided inadequate warning of stock depletion. Consequently we have placed less reliance on a CPUE/catch based assessment in these areas.

3. Catch, Catch-Rate and Size-Composition Figures

Eastern Zone Blacklip Fishery – major fishing blocks

The Eastern Zone TAC was 857.5 tonnes in both 2002 and 2003. Deviations of catch greater than 25% from the levels of the previous year occurred in Blocks 20, 23, 30 and 31 (Figure 2).

Eastern Zone catch: 2003 vs 2002 300 13 200 100 20 14 80

70

60 16

21 24 50 27

40 22

2003 Catch (tonnes) 30 31

23 20 29 17

10 28 26 30 1519 0 2518 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 100 200 300 2002 Catch (tonnes) Figure 2. The change in catch between 2002 and 2003 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 represents the “no change” position where catches would lie if they were the same in both years, the other two lines represent the 25% deviation from “no change”. Note that the scale changes between 150 and 200 tonnes to show blocks with smaller catches.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 6 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Eastern Zone-Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, 13D, 13E, 14A, 14B)

Catches continued at 450 80 the low level of 2002, 400 70 probably reflecting ~

350 60 25% TAC reduction in 300 Eastern Zone at start of 50 2002. 250 40 200 The steady catch rate Catch (t) 30

150 CPUE (kg/hr) decline from previous years has stopped, with 100 20 a small increase in 10 50 2003. 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

30 The decreasing 2000 frequency of higher 25 2001 catch rates, and 2002 increasing frequency of 20 2003 lower catch rates (20- 15 40, 40-60, and 60- 80kg/hr since 2000 is

Percentage 10 apparent. Catch rate frequency distributions 5 in 2002 and 2003 were 0 very similar. <20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-120 120-140 140-160 160-180 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 13 (Prion Bay to Southport Lagoon This chart includes catch and catch Beach) rates from the part of Block 13

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate now included in the Western Zone. 600 100 90 It has only been possible to 500 80 distinguish Eastern from Western 400 70 60 300 50 Zone catch since 2000. 40 200 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 100 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

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Block 14 (Southport Lagoon Beach to Lower From 1995, Block 14 catch rates Channel, South Bruny) were stable for some years with

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate minor fluctuations. Since 2000, the 300 80 70 catch rate decline has become 250 60 pronounced. 200 50 150 40 Levels of catch fell sharply after 30 100 1995, suggesting that abundance

20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 50 10 peaked in that year. If this is 0 0 correct, catch rates failed to

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 indicate falling stock levels. Catch Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue rates were probably buoyed by the reduced levels of catch as divers transferred effort further south to Block 13.

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Sub-block 13E contributed most (180 t) of the Actaeons catch again this year. Catch fell sharply in 13D, and the reduced effort is almost certainly responsible for the increased catch-rates there. In all other sub-blocks except 13C, the downward trend in catch rates has turned around, with small increases in 2003.

13C (Fishers Point to Whale Head) 13D (Fishers Point to Southport Lagoon Beach, including Recherche Bay)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 80 80 120 80 70 70 100 70 60 60 60 80 50 50 50 40 40 60 40 30 30 40 30 20 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

13E (Actaeon and Sterile Islands, reefs to 14A (Southport Lagoon Beach to the south) Burnett Point)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 300 80 40 80 250 70 35 70 60 30 60 200 50 25 50 150 40 20 40 100 30 15 30 20 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 50 Catch (tonnes) 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 8 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14B (Burnett Point to Blubber Head)

4-year catch and catch-rate 20 70 18 60 16 14 50 12 40 10 8 30 6 20 4 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 2 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch:

This series of charts shows the 2003 catch by month compared with the average for the previous three years. The vertical lines show maximum and minimum values for the earlier catches. Most of the catch was landed during the cooler months (see 13E). The more sheltered 14A and 14B were fished intensively during periods of bad weather in June and September. The December catch from 13C was unusually large.

13C (Fishers Point to Whale Head) 13D (Fishers Point to Southport Lagoon Beach, including Recherche Bay)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 18 00-02 average 20 00-02 average 16 18 14 16 14 12 12 10 10 8 8

Catch (tonnes) Catch 6 (tonnes) Catch 6 4 4 2 2 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 13E (Actaeon and Sterile Islands, reefs to 14A (Southport Lagoon Beach to Burnett the south) Point)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 60 00-02 average 7 00-02 average

50 6 5 40 4 30 3

Catch (tonnes) Catch 20 (tonnes) Catch 2

10 1

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 9 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14B (Burnett Point to Blubber Head)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 9 00-02 average 8 7 6 5 4

Catch (tonnes) Catch 3 2 1 0 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Aug Sep Dec May Month

Monthly catch rates:

This group of charts compares monthly geometric mean catch-rates (from landings of 40 kg or more) with the average of monthly geometric mean catch rates from the previous three years. It is most useful to compare only months where substantial landings occurred (see monthly catches above).

The 2003 monthly catch rates were mostly below the average of those from 2000-2002. Exceptions occurred in 13D, 14A and 14B, where monthly catch rates were similar to the three year average for months where the greatest volume of catch was landed.

13C (Fishers Point to Whale Head) 13D (Fishers Point to Southport Lagoon Beach, including Recherche Bay) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 100 90 100 80 70 80 60 60 50 40 40 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 20 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

13E (Actaeon and Sterile Islands, reefs to 14A (Southport Lagoon Beach to Burnett the south) Point) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 90 120 80 100 70 60 80 50 60 40 30 40

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jun Jun Jan Jan Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 10 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14B (Burnett Point to Blubber Head) 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 120

100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20

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

Size-composition of commercial catch:

Over recent years, catches from sub-blocks 13D and 13E progressively feature greater numbers of smaller abalone. This trend was halted in 2002 when the size limit was increased. While the geometric mean size of abalone from 13E was smaller in 2003 than 2002, the difference was not significant.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 11 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 13C (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 383, 4 194, 2 20 10 0 Jan

30 51, 4 20 10 Feb 0

30 60, 4 96, 1 112, 1 399, 4 20 10 Mar 0

30 212, 2 20 10 Apr 0

30 296, 3 101, 1 20 10 May 0

30 490, 5 101, 1 313, 3 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 104, 1 t 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 404, 25 97, 1 200, 2 20 10 0 Aug

30 198, 2 20 10 0 Sep

30 100, 1 411, 4 20 10 0 Oct

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 133, 9 95, 1 396, 4 202, 2 20 10 0 Nov 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 512, 5 703, 7 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 12 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 13D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 397, 26 736, 6 284, 3 20 10 0 Jan

30 70, 4 42, 3 197, 2 185, 2 296, 3 20 10 Feb 0

30 19, 1 107, 1 96, 1 20 10 Mar 0

30 49, 2 70, 3 119, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 153, 10 119, 6 551, 5 106, 1 20 10 May 0

30 43, 2 298, 3 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 143, 11 t 544, 5 195, 2 100, 1 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 154, 8 215, 16 755, 18 20 10 0 Aug

30 158, 8 20 10 0 Sep

30 156, 7 175, 6 663, 6 307, 3 99, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 260, 18 388, 4 20 10 0 Nov

30 210, 12 117, 1 388, 4 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 13 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 13E (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 247, 18 192, 2 685, 7 100, 1 20 10 0 Jan

30 70, 4 288, 17 97, 1 397, 4 308, 3 20 10 Feb 0

30 58, 4 57, 3 975, 10 499, 5 20 10 Mar 0

30 668, 39 141, 6 220, 2 87, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 190, 10 69, 3 537, 5 316, 3 769, 8 20 10 May 0

30 674, 45 717, 7 196, 2 1745, 17 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30

t 77, 6 1341, 12 493, 5 1498, 15 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 565, 35 184, 14 97, 1 666, 7 202, 2 20 10 0 Aug

30 285, 17 103, 1 1199, 12 20 10 0 Sep

30 136, 6 421, 11 1057, 10 202, 2 20 10 0 Oct

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 92, 5 314, 3 198, 2 199, 2 20 10 0 Nov

30 247, 17 917, 9 405, 4 100, 1 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 14 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Eastern Zone-Bruny Island (Blocks 14C, 14D, 14E, 15, 16).

The 2003 catch was 142 250 80 tonnes, slightly reduced 70 from 2002. 200 60 The downward catch rate 150 50 trend slowed in 2003. 40

Catch (t) 100 30 CPUE (kg/hr) 20 50 10

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

25 While the frequency 2000 distribution of catch rates 2001 20 in 2003 was similar to 2002 the previous year, there 2003 15 was a reduction in the number of catches landed 10 at high catch rates (> 80 Percentage kg/hr), continuing the 5 trend from earlier years.

0 <20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-120 120-140 140-160 160-180 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 14 (South Bruny) Approximately two thirds (80 t) of the Block 14 catch came from 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 300 80 South Bruny, and over half of that 70 250 (52 t) from the more remote 60 200 50 eastern part (14E). 150 40 30 100

20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 50 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 15 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 15 (D’Entrecasteaux Channel) This block contains only a small area of abalone habitat and does 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 12 100 not regularly contribute to the 90 10 80 fishery. 8 70 60 6 50 40 4 30 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 20 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 16 (East Bruny) Catch and catch rates have continued to fall in a trend that has 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 140 90 been apparent since 1998. Catch 120 80 trends are erratic, but in 70 100 60 conjunction with catch rates, 80 50 indicate stock levels were at 60 40 greatest levels between 1994 and 30 40 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 1998. Catch (tonnes) 20 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates

Apart from 14C (which produces insignificant amounts of catch for the purposes of this assessment) and 14D, catch and catch rates were generally lower than previous years. The amount of catch from the Friars (14E) is declining from 2001 levels. Diving at depths greater than 20 m is now less common than it was in 2000-2001, suggesting depletion of the deeper stocks that were then taken at high catch rates.

14C (Partridge Island, Channel side of 14D (Hopwood Point to West Cloudy Bruny north to Lunawanna) Head)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 9 60 35 70 8 50 30 60 7 25 50 6 40 5 20 40 30 4 15 30 3 20 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 2 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 10 1 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 16 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14E (West Cloudy Head to Boreel Head, 16A (Boreel Head to North Mangana including the Friars) Bluff)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 80 90 40 90 70 80 35 80 60 70 30 70 60 60 50 25 50 50 40 20 40 40 30 30 15 30 20 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 Catch (tonnes) 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

16B (North Mangana Bluff to Neck 16C (Neck Beach to Trumpeter Bay) Beach)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 60 80 18 70 16 50 70 60 14 60 50 40 12 50 10 40 30 40 8 30 20 30 6 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 4 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes) 10 2 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

16D (Trumpeter Bay to Dennes Point)

4-year catch and catch-rate 14 70 12 60 10 50 8 40 6 30 4 20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch

The distribution of catch by month was generally in accordance with previous years. Like most of the Eastern Zone fishery, the majority of landings from this region occur between May and November. The two South Bruny sub-blocks (14D, 14E) had higher than average catches in December, although not outside the range of previous years.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 17 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14D (Hopwood Point to West Cloudy 14E (West Cloudy Head to Boreel Head, Head) including the Friars)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 10 00-02 average 20 00-02 average 9 18 8 16 7 14 6 12 5 10 4 8

Catch (tonnes) Catch 3 (tonnes) Catch 6 2 4 1 2 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 16A (Boreel Head to North Mangana 16B (North Mangana Bluff to Neck Bluff) Beach)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 7 00-02 average 7 00-02 average

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

Catch (tonnes) Catch 2 (tonnes) Catch 2

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 16C (Neck Beach to Trumpeter Bay) 16D (Trumpeter Bay to Dennes Point)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 4 00-02 average 4 00-02 average

3 3

2 2 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) Catch 1 1

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

Monthly catch rates

In 14D, the lowest monthly catch rates correspond with the months when the greatest amount of catch was landed. In 14E, catch rates were lower than the previous three years in 4 out of 6 months with significant landings. The Block 16 catch-rates are particularly low.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 18 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

14D (Hopwood Point to West Cloudy 14E (West Cloudy Head to Boreel Head, Head) including the Friars) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 80 120

70 100 60 80 50

40 60

30 40 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 10

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

16A (Boreel Head to North Mangana 16B (North Mangana Bluff to Neck Bluff) Beach) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 160 100

140 90 80 120 70 100 60 80 50

60 40 30 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 20 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

16C (Neck Beach to Trumpeter Bay) 16D (Trumpeter Bay to Dennes Point) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 100 90 100 80 70 80 60 60 50 40 40 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 20 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

Size composition of the commercial catch:

The size composition from 16A appears stable between years (i.e. the percentage of larger size classes seems to be relatively constant), whereas the catch from 16B, particularly between June and December 2003 has much greater percentages of smaller abalone than in earlier years.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 19 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 16A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Jan

Feb

30 275, 3 100, 1 20 10 Mar 0

30 104, 1 101, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 198, 2 212, 2 20 10 May 0

30 103, 1 102, 1 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 298, 3 t 192, 2 299, 3 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 100, 1 20 10 0 Aug

30 316, 3 199, 2 100, 1 20 10 0 Sep

30 77, 1 223, 2 100, 1 20 10 0 Oct

130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 536, 5 516, 5 805, 8 20 10 0 Nov 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 200 30 207, 2 302, 3 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 20 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 16B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

30 135, 1 20 10 0 Jan

Feb

30 111, 1 104, 1 20 10 Mar 0

Apr

30 103, 1 103, 1 20 10 May 0

30 101, 1 812, 8 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 285, 3 t 401, 4 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 426, 4 200, 2 20 10 0 Aug

30 803, 8 201, 2 20 10 0 Sep

30 430, 4 92, 1 103, 1 201, 2 20 10 0 Oct

30 498, 5 300, 3 20 10 0 Nov

30 431, 4 102, 1 430, 4 99, 1 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 21 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Eastern Zone-Storm Bay (Blocks 17-21).

In spite of recent quota 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 250 90 reductions, catches in 80 this region have recently 200 70 60 increased. Most of the 150 50 catch comes from Blocks 40 100 20 and 21. It appears that 30 much of the effort 20 (kg/hr) Cpue Catch (tonnes) Catch 50 10 formerly applied to the 0 0 East Coast has been shifted to this region. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue After steadily falling for several years, catch rates appear to have stabilised.

25 The 2003 CPUE 2000 distribution matches the 2001 20 previous year. The 2002 reduction in higher catch 2003 15 rates from previous years is apparent. 10 Percentage

5

0 <20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-120 120-140 140-160 160-180 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 17 (South Arm to Cremorne, Betsey 2003 catch and catch rates show a Island, Blackjack shore to Outer North Head) slight reversal to the recent pattern

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate of falling catches and catch rates. 50 80 Note that mean catch rates have been 45 70 40 60 at or below 50 kg/hr for the past 35 30 50 three years. 25 40 20 30 15

20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 22 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 18 (Derwent River, Iron Pot) This block contains marginal

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate abalone habitat, and is not an 5 100 90 important part of the fishery. 4 80 70 3 60 50 2 40 30

1 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 19 (northern Frederick Henry Bay) This block contains marginal abalone habitat, and is not an 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 6 80 important part of the fishery. Like 70 5 most blocks in the Eastern Zone, 60 4 recent catches and catch rates are at 50 3 40 low levels. 30 2

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 1 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 20 (western shore of Tasman Peninsula) Stocks in this block seem to be

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate resilient in the face of increasing 120 80 effort. Like the rest of the Eastern 70 100 60 Zone, catch rates fell sharply in 80 50 2001. Since then however, catches 60 40 30 have increased, with catch rates 40

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 stable between means of 50 and 60 10 0 0 kg/hr. Note that the 2003 catch (88 t) is 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year considerably greater than the 1975- blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue 2003 average (58 t). Block 21 (southern shore of Tasman Peninsula) Recent catches have been hovering

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate around long-term average levels. 90 100 80 90 Catch rates have been steadily 70 80 declining since 1998, although the 60 70 60 50 rate of decline has been reduced 50 40 40 since 2001. 30 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 10 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 23 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block catch and catch rates

Landings of nearly 7 t were reported from 17A (includes Betsey Island) in 2003 whereas landings reported for the three previous years were less than 1 t. The best performing sub-block was 20A, where the catch increased almost threefold over the previous year, with stable to rising catch rates between 50 and 60 kg/hr. Although sharing similar coastal characteristics, the sub-block immediately to the north of 20A (17B) had much lower levels of catch and catch rates.

Catch and catch rate trends in 20B suggest the level of catch was too high, whereas 20C appeared resilient to increasing levels of catch. The catch rate declines in both 21A and 21B appeared to be slowing.

17B (Blackjack shoreline from Lobster 20A (Outer North Head to White Beach) Point to Outer North Head)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 30 80 35 70

25 70 30 60 60 25 50 20 50 20 40 15 40 15 30 30 10 10 20

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

20B (White Beach to Salters Point) 20C (Salters Point to Cape Raoul)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 40 70 25 90 35 60 80 20 70 30 50 60 25 15 40 50 20 40 30 10 15 30 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) 5 20 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

21A (Cape Raoul to Port Arthur) 21C (Port Arthur to Cape Pillar)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 30 90 40 80 80 25 35 70 70 30 60 20 60 25 50 50 15 20 40 40 15 30 10 30 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 24 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch:

The distribution of catch varied widely between sub-blocks. 21C produced large catches in the warmer months (particularly January, November and December) at better than average catch rates. There was a decline in landings from 20B in the later part of the year as divers moved north to 20A. Block 21 produced an unusually large amount of catch in December.

17B (Blackjack shoreline from Lobster 20A (Outer North Head to White Beach) Point to Outer North Head)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 6 00-02 average 6 00-02 average

5 5

4 4

3 3 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 2

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Oct Apr Jan Jun Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Mar Nov Feb Aug Sep Dec Nov Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 20B (White Beach to Salters Point) 20C (Salters Point to Cape Raoul)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 6 00-02 average 7 00-02 average

5 6 5 4 4 3 3 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 2

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Oct Apr Oct Jan Jun Jun Jan Mar Feb Mar Nov Feb Aug Sep Dec Nov Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 21A (Cape Raoul to Port Arthur) 21C (Port Arthur to Cape Pillar)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 10 00-02 average 9 4 8 7 3 6 5 2 4

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 3 1 2 1 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jun Jun Jan Jan Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month

Monthly catch rates:

Generally, catch rates were remarkably stable throughout the year, and except for 17B and 20A, showed few indications of the end-of-year stock decline common to many annual crop fisheries.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 25 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

17B (Blackjack shoreline from Lobster 20A (Outer North Head to White Beach) Point to Outer North Head) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 90 80 100 70 80 60 50 60 40 40 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate 20 20 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

20B (White Beach to Salters Point) 20C (Salters Point to Cape Raoul) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 90 100 80 90 70 80 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

21A (Cape Raoul to Port Arthur) 21C (Port Arthur to Cape Pillar) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 120

100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 20

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

Size composition of the commercial catch:

The number of samples collected from catches in this region is less than we would like, particularly from earlier years. However, the catch samples from most sub-blocks show trends in common with catches from the Actaeons: the catches have greater percentages of smaller size-classes (136-140 mm, 141-145 mm) and less large size-classes (> 160 mm) in 2003 than in previous years. The exceptions were in 21A and 21C, where 2003 samples had similar profiles to earlier samples.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 26 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 20B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

30 122, 14 20 10 0 Jan

30 85, 5 20 10 Feb 0

30 102, 9 100, 1 20 10 Mar 0

Apr

May

30 214, 3 198, 2 107, 1 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 509, 5 t 200, 2 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 261, 13 100, 2 20 10 0 Aug

130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 114, 1 102, 1 100, 1 20 10 0 Sep

30 106, 10 103, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 97, 1 103, 1 20 10 0 Nov 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 30 200 113, 1 253, 2 100, 1 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 27 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 20C (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 84, 5 148, 1 275, 3 20 10 0 Jan

30 215, 2 20 10 Feb 0

30 103, 1 20 10 Mar 0

Apr

30 128, 1 20 10 May 0

30 206, 14 424, 4 20 10 0 Jun 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 age (%) age 30 445, 4 t 170, 2 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 103, 1 216, 2 100, 1 20 10 0 Aug

30 99, 1 99, 1 20 10 0 Sep

30 188, 2 111, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 106, 1 102, 1 298, 3 20 10 0 Nov 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 205, 2 214, 2 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 28 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Eastern Zone-East Coast (Blocks 22–31)

The 2003 catch from this 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 700 90 region (219 t) is the 600 80 lowest since reliable 70 500 60 catch data was first 400 50 collected (1975). 300 40 30 200 The steady catch-rate 20 (kg/hr) Cpue Catch (tonnes) Catch decline of recent years 100 10 0 0 has stopped, leaving mean catch rates below 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year 50 kg/hr. blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

25 Catch rates were modal 2000 at 40-60 kg/hr. The 2001 20 frequency of higher 2002 catch rates (>60 kg/hr) 2003 15 which declined sharply in 2001, remains at low 10 levels. Percentage

5

0 <20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-120 120-140 140-160 160-180 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 22 (east Tasman Peninsula) Although stable, catch rates have been below 50 kg/hr and the 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 80 80 annual catch below the long term 70 70 average (48 t) for three 60 60 consecutive years. 50 50 40 40 30 30

20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 29 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 23 (Forestier Peninsula) Recent annual catches have been at

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate levels approximately half the long 60 80 term average (42 t). Since 2000, 70 50 60 mean annual catch rates have 40 50 fluctuated between 38 and 44 30 40 30 kg/hr. 20

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 24 (Maria Island, western shore of Producing over 100 t for Mercury Passage) successive years during the late

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 1990’s, the catch from Maria 180 90 160 80 Island and Mercury Passage has 140 70 dropped to approximately 50 120 60 100 50 during the last two years. Catch 80 40 rates have fluctuated at levels 60 30

40 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) below 50 kg/hr. 20 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 25 (Triabunna to Little Swanport) This block has failed to produce

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate significant levels of catch since 3 140 1988. 120 100 2 80 60 1 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 26 (Great Oyster Bay) This block produces significant

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate annual catches only at irregular 30 120 intervals. 25 100

20 80

15 60

10 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 20

0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 30 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 27 (Eastern side of Freycinet Peninsula, Since 2000, catches have remained Schouten Island) below the long-term average (83 t),

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate while catch rates appear to have 200 100 180 90 stabilised but at approximately 50 160 80 kg/hr. 140 70 120 60 100 50 80 40 60 30 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 40 20 20 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 28 (Friendly Beaches to Seymour, The long-term average for this including Bicheno) block is 59 t; catches for the last

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate three years have averaged 8 t at 90 100 80 90 low catch rates 70 80 60 70 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 10 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 29 (Seymour to St Helens Point) Most of the catch from this block

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate is taken from the southern end, 35 100 90 where the coastline is short but 30 80 productive. The boundary between 25 70 20 60 Block 28 and Block 29 nominally 50 15 40 lies in the centre of the headland at 10 30 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 20 Long Point, but the catch from this 5 10 0 0 area is usually reported as Block 29. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 30 (St Helens Point to Eddystone Point) For many years this block

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate produced over 100 tonnes 30 80 annually. While it now produces 70 25 60 no significant commercial 20 50 landings, isolated catches can still 15 40 30 be taken at reasonable catch rates 10

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 from remnant populations. 10 0 0 Block 30 is an important part of the recreational abalone fishery in 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year North East Tasmania. blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 31 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 31 (Eddystone to Musselroe Bay) The 2003 annual catch fell sharply,

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate although the high catches between 100 100 90 90 2000 and 2002 were well above 80 80 70 70 average (see Appendix 2) and 60 60 50 50 probably at unsustainable levels. 40 40 30 30 Because of the subdivision of this Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 20 20 10 10 block between zones, it is now 0 0 difficult to determine what levels

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 of catch to expect from Block 31, Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue and it is possible that the current greenlip cpue blacklip cpue catch (27 t) is all that can be sustainably produced.

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Although the trend of falling catch rates from the East Coast appears to have stopped, the indications for recovery are weak and inconclusive. For example, the Spring Bay Mercury Passage region (24A, 24B, 24C) shows a pronounced catch rate increase over 2002, but the catch is so low compared with 2000-2001 that it seems that divers are only able to achieve better catch rates by fishing isolated populations, and that the recovery is therefore limited to small areas and is not widespread. The catch data shows that many divers fished across a range of sub-blocks before settling on one or two areas from which they could take consistent catches.

The better sub-blocks (e.g. 23A, 27A, 27B and 29A) were typically the most distant from launching ramps, whilst the sub-blocks showing the greatest reduction in annual catch and lower catch rates are typically more accessible (e.g. sub-blocks 23B, 27C, 27D). This is indicative of serial depletion and unsustainable fishing mortality at current stock levels.

22A (Cape Pillar to the Lanterns) 22B (The Lanterns to Eaglehawk Neck)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 25 80 40 70 70 35 60 20 60 30 50 50 25 15 40 40 20 30 10 30 15 20 10 20 5 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes) 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 32 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

23A (Deep Glen Bay to Lagoon Bay) 23B (Lagoon Bay to Marion Bay)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 18 70 30 70 16 60 25 60 14 50 50 12 20 10 40 40 15 8 30 30 6 10 20 20

4 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 2 10 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

24A (western shore of Mercury Passage) 24B (western shore of Maria Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 14 70 30 70

12 60 25 60 10 50 50 20 8 40 40 15 6 30 30 10 4 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) Catch 2 10 (tonnes) Catch 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

24C (Spring Bay) 24D (north-east side of Maria Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 14 60 60 90 80 12 50 50 70 10 40 40 60 8 50 30 30 6 40 20 20 30 4

Cpue (kg/hr) 20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes) 10 2 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

24E (south-east side of Maria Island) 27A (south side of Schouten Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 18 70 12 80 16 60 10 70 14 50 60 12 8 50 10 40 6 40 8 30 6 4 30 20 20 4 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 2 10 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 33 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

27B (east side of Schouten Island) 27C (Schouten Passage to Wineglass

4-year catch and catch-rate Bay) 12 90 80 4-year catch and catch-rate 10 70 45 100 8 60 40 90 80 50 35 6 30 70 40 60 25 4 30 50 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Catch (tonnes) 2 10 15 30

0 0 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year

blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

27D (Wineglass Bay to the Friendly 29A (Long Point to mid-Templestowe Beaches) Beach)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 45 90 12 70 40 80 10 60 35 70 50 30 60 8 25 50 40 6 20 40 30 4 15 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

29D (Scamander to St Helens Point, 30A (St Helens Point to Taylor’s Beach, including St Helens Island) including Binalong Bay)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 16 80 9 70 14 70 8 60 7 12 60 50 10 50 6 5 40 8 40 4 30 6 30 3 4 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 2 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 Catch (tonnes) 1 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

31A (Eddystone Point to Cape Naturaliste)

4-year catch and catch-rate 80 100 70 90 80 60 70 50 60 40 50 30 40 30 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 34 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch and monthly catch rates:

Only small amounts of catch were taken early in the year, and typically, catch rates were low. Significant levels of catch were not taken until May or June, when catch rates showed some improvement.

Notwithstanding the low levels of catch taken from the East Coast region in 2003, several catch charts show monthly catches greater than previous catches (e.g. 23A in June, 27B in June and July), or monthly catches consistently greater than the previous year (e.g. 29A). Most of the East Coast catch was taken from fewer sub-blocks than in previous years.

When divers found good stock levels and consistently landed reasonable catches, they tended to re-visit the area until catch rates fell (e.g. 23A), and not move to other areas as they might have done when fishable stocks were more widely dispersed. This could explain why 2003 monthly catches are frequently greater than catches from previous years.

Monthly catch and catch rates charts are supplied for sub-block 30A even though the annual catch is insignificant. Block 30 once supported a large fishery; however it is now evident that even at current levels of catch, only low catch rates can be achieved.

22A (Cape Pillar to the Lanterns) 22B (The Lanterns to Eaglehawk Neck)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 7 00-02 average

6 4 5

3 4

2 3 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 23A (Deep Glen Bay to Lagoon Bay) 23B (Lagoon Bay to Marion Bay)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 5 00-02 average

4 4

3 3

2 2 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes)

1 1

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 35 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

24A (western shore of Mercury Passage) 24B (western shore of Maria Island)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 5 00-02 average

4 4

3 3

2 2 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes)

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 24C (Spring Bay) 24D (north-east side of Maria Island)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 10 00-02 average 9 4 8 7 3 6 5 2 4

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 3 1 2 1 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 24E (south-east side of Maria Island) 27A (south side of Schouten Island)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 5 00-02 average

4 4

3 3

2 2 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes)

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 27B (east side of Schouten Island) 27C (Schouten Passage to Wineglass Bay)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 7 00-02 average

6 4 5

3 4

2 3 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 1 1

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 36 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

27D (Wineglass Bay to the Friendly 29A (Long Point to mid-Templestowe Beaches) Beach)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 7 00-02 average 3 00-02 average

6

5 2 4

3

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 1 2

1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 29D (Scamander to St Helens Point, 30A (St Helens Point to Taylor’s Beach, including St Helens Island) including Binalong Bay)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average 5 00-02 average

4 4

3 3

2 2 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes)

1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 31A (Eddystone Point to Cape Naturaliste)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 16 00-02 average 14

12

10

8

6 Catch (tonnes) 4

2

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

22A (Cape Pillar to the Lanterns) 22B (The Lanterns to Eaglehawk Neck) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 80

70 100 60 80 50

60 40

30 40 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 37 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

23A (Deep Glen Bay to Lagoon Bay) 23B (Lagoon Bay to Marion Bay) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 100 80

90 70 80 60 70 60 50 50 40

40 30 30 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 10 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

24A (western shore of Mercury Passage) 24B (western shore of Maria Island) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 80 120

70 100 60 80 50

40 60

30 40 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10

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

24C (Spring Bay) 24D (north-east side of Maria Island) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 80 100

70 90 80 60 70 50 60 40 50

30 40 30 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

24E (south-east side of Maria Island) 27A (south side of Schouten Island) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 120 120

100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 20

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 38 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

27B (east side of Schouten Island) 27C (Schouten Passage to Wineglass 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Bay) 2003 140 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 20 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May 0 Month Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

27D (Wineglass Bay to the Friendly 29A (Long Point to mid-Templestowe Beaches) Beach) 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 120 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 100 90 80 80 70 60 60 50 40 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 0 10 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May 0 Month Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

29D (Scamander to St Helens Point, 30A (St Helens Point to Taylor’s Beach, including St Helens Island) including Binalong Bay) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 100 100 90 90 80 80 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 10 10 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

31A (Eddystone Point to Cape Naturaliste) 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 120

100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 39 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Size composition of the commercial catch: Samples from the northern part of the East Coast are limited to the winter months, because most fishing occurs then. Recent samples from 22B, 23A and 24D show no change in size-composition over previous years, while samples from 27C, 27D and 29A tend to show greater proportions of smaller abalone in the catch.

Sub-block 22B (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 303, 3 98, 1 20 10 0 Jan

30 57, 4 97, 1 100, 1 20 10 Feb 0

30 111, 12 20 10 Mar 0

30 111, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 36, 3 88, 6 113, 1 315, 3 20 10 May 0

30 95, 2 775, 7 290, 3 100, 1 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 187, 7 t 346, 3 82, 1 203, 2 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 217, 1 415, 4 20 10 0 Aug

30 474, 4 202, 2 20 10 0 Sep

30 70, 4 193, 2 207, 2 498, 5 20 10 0 Oct

30 79, 4 82, 1 106, 1 204, 2 403, 4 20 10 0 Nov 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 130 140 150 160 200 497, 5 205, 2 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 40 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 23A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

30 148, 4 20 10 0 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

30 210, 2 20 10 May 0

30 210, 2 109, 1 303, 3 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 323, 3 t 301, 3 100, 1 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 185, 2 104, 1 502, 5 20 10 0 Aug

30 242, 2 300, 3 20 10 0 Sep

30 294, 3 206, 2 200, 2 20 10 0 Oct

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 21, 1 308, 3 105, 1 199, 2 20 20 10 10 0 0 Nov 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 200 30 197, 2 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 41 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 24D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 158, 8 113, 1 20 10 0 Jan

30 110, 1 20 10 Feb 0

30 173, 21 153, 11 20 10 Mar 0

Apr

30 226, 2 316, 3 20 10 May 0

30 99, 1 205, 2 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 105, 1 t 295, 3 200, 2 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 978, 9 100, 1 20 10 0 Aug

30 800, 8 195, 2 20 10 0 Sep

30 46, 3 315, 3 171, 2 188, 2 100, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 183, 2 108, 1 104, 1 100, 1 20 10 0 Nov

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 96, 8 438, 4 539, 5 209, 2 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 42 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 27C (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Jan

Feb

30 95, 1 20 10 Mar 0

30 84, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 216, 2 20 10 May 0

30 116, 6 315, 13 105, 1 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 239, 9 t 101, 1 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 187, 2 93, 1 20 10 0 Aug

30 765, 7 106, 1 100, 1 20 10 0 Sep

30 64, 4 100, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 196, 2 212, 2 97, 1 20 10 0 Nov 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 200 30 1136, 10 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 43 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 27D (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Jan

Feb

30 245, 2 101, 1 20 10 Mar 0

30 117, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 117, 1 111, 1 20 10 May 0

30 72, 4 57, 3 199, 2 304, 3 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 166, 8 t 403, 4 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 213, 2 109, 1 20 10 0 Aug 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 30 257, 2 20 10 0 Sep

30 772, 8 108, 1 20 10 0 Oct

30 215, 2 20 10 0 Nov 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 200 30 88, 1 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 44 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Sub-block 29A (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

30 215, 2 20 10 May 0

30 144, 8 227, 2 102, 1 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30 82, 4 t 100, 1 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 141, 6 112, 1 96, 1 111, 1 20 10 0 Aug 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 130 140 150 160

Sep

Oct

30 100, 1 20 10 0 Nov 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Dec

Size-class (mm)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 45 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Western Zone Blacklip Fishery – major fishing blocks

Catches fell by over 40% in Block 6, and to a lesser extent in Block 9 and 13, but were compensated for by increases in Blocks 7 and 10 (Figure 3).

Western Zone catch: 2003 vs 2002 450

400

350 11

300

250 10 12

200

2003 Catch (tonnes) 150 9

7 100 6

13 50 8

0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 2002 Catch (tonnes)

Figure 3. Blacklip catch from the Western Zone (Block 6 to Block 13 (sub-blocks 13A, 13B)). In 2003, the Western Zone TAC (1260 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2002 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

Western Zone-North West (Sub-block 5D, Block 6)

Catch and catch rates 250 160 continued their steady 140 decline of recent years. 200 120

150 100 80

Catch (t) 100 60 CPUE (kg/hr) 40 50 20

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 46 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

18 The decline in catch rates 2000 16 in 2003 was more 2001 pronounced than in 14 2002 previous years. The 12 2003 mode has shifted to the 10 next smallest category, 8 catches taken at 50-75

Percentage 6 kg/hr have doubled, 4 while the number of 2 catches taken at higher 0 catch rates (>150 kg/hr) have halved over recent <50

50-75 years. 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 250-275 275-300 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 6 (Arthur Beach to Italian River, Catch rates have declined steadily including Sundown, Couta Rocks, Temma and since 2000, after catch levels had Sandy Cape) increased several years previously. Despite a long term average catch 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate of 168 t, it appears that this block 250 160 140 can no longer sustain fishing at 200 120 that level. 150 100 80 100 60

40 Cpue (kg/hr) 50 Catch (tonnes) 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates

Catch and catch rates have declined in all parts of Block 6. The biggest decline has been in the more accessible northern parts, but all sub-blocks were severely affected.

6A (Sundown to Temma) 6B (Temma Harbour to rocks north of Dawson River)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 100 160 60 160 90 140 140 80 50 120 120 70 40 60 100 100 50 80 30 80 40 60 60 30 20 40 40 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 47 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

6C (Rocks north of the Dawson River to 6D (Wild Wave River to Italian River, Sandy Cape Beach – Wild Wave River) including Sandy Cape)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 60 160 60 200 140 180 50 50 160 120 40 40 140 100 120 30 80 30 100 60 80 20 20 60 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes) 10 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch

Much of this block is now fished year round, i.e. abalone stocks do not receive the protection that other parts of this coast receive when bad weather prevents fishing. The close proximity of the Western Zone with other zones in the North West (Northern, greenlip, Bass Strait) means that divers frequent the area year round and are able to fish Block 6 whenever weather and sea conditions permit.

6A (Sundown to Temma) 6B (Temma Harbour to rocks north of Dawson River)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 20 00-02 average 12 00-02 average 18 10 16 14 8 12 10 6 8

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) Catch 4 6 4 2 2 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 6C (Rocks north of the Dawson River to 6D (Wild Wave River to Italian River, Sandy Cape Beach – Wild Wave River) including Sandy Cape)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 12 00-02 average 12 00-02 average

10 10

8 8

6 6

Catch (tonnes) Catch 4 (tonnes) Catch 4

2 2

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 48 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch rates:

The size limit increase in 2003 from 132 to 136 mm probably reduced catch rates in 6A, 6B and 6C. However catch rates in 6D, where the size limit was unaffected, were mostly as low or lower than previous levels, so the size-limit increase was only partially responsible for lower catch rates in the other blocks in 2003. The lower catch rates appear to be associated with high levels of catch in recent years.

6A (Sundown to Temma) 6B (Temma Harbour to rocks north of Dawson River) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 180 250 160 140 200 120 150 100 80 100 60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 20 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

6C (Rocks north of the Dawson River to 6D (Wild Wave River to Italian River, Sandy Cape Beach – Wild Wave River) including Sandy Cape) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

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

Size composition of the commercial catch:

Sampling frequency was too low to detect changes in the size composition of the catch.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 49 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Western Zone-Central West (Blocks 7, 8 and 9)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate The 2003 catch 350 200 increased, particularly 180 300 160 from landings at 250 140 Granville Harbour. The 200 120 100 high level of catches 150 80 from Block 7 was 100 60 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue

Catch (tonnes) 40 accompanied by lower 50 20 catch rates. 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

18 The 2003 distribution of 2000 16 CPUE is similar to that 2001 of 2001, although the 14 2002 frequency of higher catch 12 2003 rate categories (150-250 10 kg/hr) was reduced. 8

Percentage 6 4 2 0 <50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 300-350 350-400 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 7 (Italian River to Granville Harbour) The 2003 annual catch was very

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate high (104 t), almost double the 120 200 180 long term average (59 t). Catch 100 160 rates, stable at approximately 170 80 140 120 60 100 kg/hr for many years, fell to 146 80 40 60 kg/hr in 2003. 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 50 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 8 (Granville Harbour to Ocean Beach) Catches increased, partly because

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate more divers fished from Granville 40 250 35 Harbour, and partly because 200 30 processors preferred Western Zone 25 150 20 abalone from this region. Catch 15 100 rates, although greatly reduced

10 Cpue (kg/hr) 50 Catch (tonnes) 5 from the previous year, remain 0 0 within the range of earlier years. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 9 (Ocean Beach to Point Hibbs) The annual catch fell again in

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 2003, partly because divers chose 250 250 to fish north of Strahan, partly 200 200 because of transfer of effort to 150 150 motherships in Blocks 10 and 12. 100 100 Catch rates have tended to stabilise

50 50 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) at approximately 150 kg/hr after 0 0 falling from very high levels in

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000. Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

In 7A, the 2003 annual catch doubled to 23 t as greater numbers of divers from Couta Rocks travelled further south in search of higher stock levels. There were more divers operating from Granville Harbour, and the increased fishing pressure forced them to travel to the more remote sub-blocks 7A and 8B. Closer to the ramp, catch from 7B (49 t) almost doubled and from 7C (27 t) increased more than three-fold over the previous year. Catch rates responded to the increased level of catch by falling in all areas except 8A, and are now in the range 140 to 150 kg/hr.

South of Strahan, 9B catches were reduced to one third of 2000 levels, with catch rates stabilising. Catches in the more remote 9C have also fallen, with catch rates fluctuating between 150 and 170 kg/hr during the past three years.

7A (Italian River to the Pieman River, 7B (Pieman to Ahrberg Bay, including including Rupert Point) Conical Rocks)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 30 200 60 200 180 180 25 160 50 160 20 140 40 140 120 120 15 100 30 100 80 80 10 60 20 60

40 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 Catch (tonnes) 10 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 51 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

7C (Ahrberg to Granville Harbour) 8A (Granville to Tasman Bay)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 30 250 25 180 160 25 200 20 140 20 120 150 15 100 15 80 100 10 10 60

50 Cpue (kg/hr) 5 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 Catch (tonnes) 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

9B (Cape Sorell to Gorge Point) 9C (Gorge Point to Point Hibbs)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 140 180 140 200 180 120 160 120 140 160 100 100 120 140 120 80 100 80 100 80 60 60 80 60 40 40 60 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 Catch (tonnes) 20 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch:

All sub-blocks except 9B show monthly levels of catch outside the range of previous levels. Blocks 7 and 8 are usually fished only in good weather conditions, which occur less frequently in winter. Despite this, divers fished the closer parts at unusually high levels in winter in 2003.

7A (Italian River to the Pieman River, 7B (Pieman to Ahrberg Bay, including including Rupert Point) Conical Rocks)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 16 00-02 average 18 00-02 average 14 16

12 14 12 10 10 8 8 6

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 52 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

7C (Ahrberg to Granville Harbour) 8A (Granville to Tasman Bay)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 8 00-02 average 9 00-02 average 7 8

6 7 6 5 5 4 4 3

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) Catch 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 9B (Cape Sorell to Gorge Point) 9C (Gorge Point to Point Hibbs)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 30 00-02 average 40 00-02 average 35 25 30 20 25

15 20

15

Catch (tonnes) Catch 10 (tonnes) Catch 10 5 5

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jan Jun Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month Monthly catch rates:

Monthly catch rates were highly variable. The low catch rates in 9B between March and May are of concern.

7A (Italian River to the Pieman River, 7B (Pieman to Ahrberg Bay, including including Rupert Point) Conical Rocks) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 350 250

300 200 250

200 150

150 100 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 50

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

7C (Ahrberg to Granville Harbour) 8A (Granville to Tasman Bay) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 300 300

250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 50

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 53 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

9B (Cape Sorell to Gorge Point) 9C (Gorge Point to Point Hibbs) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

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

Size composition of the commercial catch:

Sampling frequency was too low to detect changes in the size composition of the catch.

Western Zone-South West (Blocks 10 and 11)

The annual catch has 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 700 200 increased, particularly 180 600 from Block 10. Catch 160 500 140 rates have fallen from 400 120 very high levels to 100 300 80 approximately 150 kg/hr. 200 60 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue

Catch (tonnes) 40 100 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

18 The CPUE distribution is 2000 16 similar to that from the 2001 Central West region, 14 2002 with the mode 12 2003 fluctuating between 100- 10 150 and 150-200 kg/hr in 8 recent years.

Percentage 6 4 2 0 <50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 300-350 350-400 Cpue category (kg/hr)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 54 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 10 (Point Hibbs to Low Rocky Point) Much greater levels of catch (239

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate t) were landed in 2003, almost 300 250 double the long term average. 250 200 Catch rates fell, though remain at 200 150 150 high levels (165 kg/hr). 100 100

50 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 50

0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 11 (Low Rocky Point to Faults Bay, Catch rates have fluctuated during including Port Davey) recent years, probably more as a

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate response to fleet dynamics rather 400 180 350 160 than stock depletion. 300 140 120 250 100 200 80 150 60

100 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 50 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

The increased level of catch from the region in 2003 came mostly from 10D, where the annual catch doubled to 140 t in 2003. Catch rates fell in 10C, but from very high levels in 2000 (237 kg/hr) and remain above 160 kg/hr. In Block 11, falls in annual catch in 11B and 11C were compensated by rises in the other sub-blocks. Catch rates tend to trend downward when viewed over the past four years, but remain at high levels except in Port Davey and the coast immediately south (11D and 11E). Market preferences for smaller abalone and the refusal of processors to accept large abalone (> 160 mm shell length) must contribute to lower catch rates, and given the prevalence of large abalone in this region, it is remarkable that catch rates did not fall further. Much of Port Davey is now a marine reserve, so the annual catch can be expected to fall in 2004.

10A (Point Hibbs to Endeavour Bay) 10B (Endeavour Bay to High Rocky Point)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 40 200 40 200 35 180 35 180 160 160 30 30 140 140 25 120 25 120 20 100 20 100 15 80 15 80 60 60 10 10 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 5 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 55 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

10C (High Rocky Point to Mainwaring 10D (Mainwaring River to Low Rocky River) Point)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 50 250 160 250 45 140 40 200 200 120 35 30 150 100 150 25 80 20 100 60 100 15 40 10 50 Cpue (kg/hr) 50 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

11A (Low Rocky Point to Elliott Point) 11B (Elliott Point to Svenor Gulches)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 140 200 90 200 180 180 120 80 160 70 160 100 140 60 140 120 120 80 50 100 100 40 60 80 80 30 40 60 60 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 20 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 Catch (tonnes) 20 10 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

11C (Svenor Gulches to Point St 11D (Hilliard Head to Faults Bay) Vincent)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 140 180 30 180 160 160 120 25 140 140 100 120 20 120 80 100 100 15 60 80 80 60 10 60 40

40 Cpue (kg/hr) 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

11E (Point St Vincent to Hilliard Head, including Port Davey)

4-year catch and catch-rate 45 180 40 160 35 140 30 120 25 100 20 80 15 60

10 40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 56 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch:

Many areas featured unusually high levels of monthly catch. Catches varied greatly between months; adjacent sub-blocks showed high levels of catch on alternate months (10D, 11A, 11B) as effort appears to be rotated to maintain high catch rates. Most sub- blocks were fished heavily in November.

10A (Point Hibbs to Endeavour Bay) 10B (Endeavour Bay to High Rocky Point)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 14 00-02 average 16 00-02 average

12 14 12 10 10 8 8 6 6 Catch (tonnes) Catch 4 (tonnes) Catch 4

2 2

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Aug Sep Dec Dec May May Month Month 10C (High Rocky Point to Mainwaring 10D (Mainwaring River to Low Rocky River) Point)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 20 00-02 average 35 00-02 average 18 30 16 25 14 12 20 10 15 8 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) Catch 6 10

4 5 2 0 0 Jul Oct Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Nov Dec Jul Aug May Apr Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Aug Sep Dec May Month Month 11A (Low Rocky Point to Elliott Point) 11B (Elliott Point to Svenor Gulches)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 30 00-02 average 25 00-02 average

25 20

20 15 15 10

Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes)

5 5

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 57 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

11C (Svenor Gulches to Point St 11D (Hilliard Head to Faults Bay)

Vincent) Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 10 00-02 average Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 9 25 00-02 average 8 7 20 6 5 15 4

Catch (tonnes) 3 10 2 Catch (tonnes) 1 5 0 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Aug Sep Dec 0 May Month Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Aug Sep Dec May Month 11E (Point St Vincent to Hilliard Head, including Port Davey)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 10 00-02 average 9 8 7 6 5 4

Catch (tonnes) 3 2 1 0 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Mar Feb Nov Aug Sep Dec May Month

Monthly catch rates:

The low monthly catch rates in parts of Block 11 (e.g. May, June) are usually associated with small levels of monthly catch, assumed to be taken in adverse conditions. However the March catch from 11A was substantial (16 t) and it is assumed that the low catch rates there reflect buyer resistance to large abalone.

10A (Point Hibbs to Endeavour Bay) 10B (Endeavour Bay to High Rocky 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Point) 2003 350 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 300 300 250 250 200 200 150 150 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 0 50 Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May 0 Month Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 58 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

10C (High Rocky Point to Mainwaring 10D (Mainwaring River to Low Rocky River) Point) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 450 350 400 300 350 250 300 250 200

200 150 150 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 50 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

11A (Low Rocky Point to Elliott Point) 11B (Elliott Point to Svenor Gulches) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 300 300

250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 50

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

11C (Svenor Gulches to Point St 11D (Hilliard Head to Faults Bay) 00-02 average Vincent) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 00-02 average 350 Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 250 300 250 200 200

150 150

100 100 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 0 Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec 0 May Month Jul Apr Oct Jan Jun Feb Mar Aug Sep Nov Dec May Month

11E (Point St Vincent to Hilliard Head, including Port Davey) 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 250

200

150

100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 59 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Size composition of the commercial catch:

While significant differences in GMS between samples collected in 2003 and previous years were detected, they appear to be random and followed no obvious pattern. Because most sampling was from catches processed at canneries where abalone larger than 160 mm were accepted, no reduction in GMS due to imposition of an upper size- limit could be detected.

Western Zone-South Coast (Block 12, Sub-blocks 13A, 13B)

Levels of catch, which 400 140 have been above average 350 120 in recent years, are now falling to more moderate 300 100 levels. The downward 250 80 trend in catch rates has 200 stopped, with some 60 improvement over the Catch (t) 150

CPUE (kg/hr) previous year. 40 100

50 20

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

25 The 2003 distribution of 2000 CPUE is similar to that 2001 20 of the previous year. The 2002 improvement in catch 2003 15 rates between 2003 and 2002 has occurred 10 between the 50-100 kg/hr Percentage and 100-150 kg/hr 5 categories.

0 <50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 300-350 350-400 Cpue category (kg/hr)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 60 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 12 (Faults Bay to Prion Beach, including Catch rates have improved , South West Cape, Cox Bight and Maatsuyker probably as a result of reduced Island) catch levels since 2002. However,

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate the annual catch (229 t) remains at 350 160 greater than average levels (207 t). 300 140 250 120 100 200 80 150 60 100

40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 50 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Block 13 (Prion Beach to Whale Head) Most catch from this block is from

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate the Eastern Zone, and masks any 600 100 90 trends from the Western Zone sub- 500 80 blocks 13A and 13B. 400 70 60 300 50 The annual catch reported from 40 200 30 these two sub-blocks was almost at 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 100 the four year average. 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Catch and catch rates show no consistent trends. The more remote areas have higher catch rates than 13A and 13B, probably reflecting the more difficult access by small boat from Southport. Previous assessments have been concerned at the level of fishing in the more accessible sub-blocks (13A, 13B). Geometric mean catch rates are approximately 90 kg/hr in these areas but it is difficult to asses whether this indicates stock depletion, divers attempting to catch Western Zone quota in adverse conditions or market preferences for small abalone.

12A (Faults Bay to South West Cape) 12B (South West Cape to Cox ‘s Bluff)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 80 250 80 140 70 70 120 200 60 60 100 50 50 150 80 40 40 60 30 100 30 20 20 40 50 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 Catch (tonnes) 10 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 61 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

12C (Maatsuyker Group) 12D (Cox’s Bluff to Prion Beach)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 45 160 140 140 40 140 120 120 35 120 100 100 30 100 25 80 80 80 20 60 60 15 60 40 40 40 10 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 Catch (tonnes) 20 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

13A (Prion Beach to South Cape) 13B (South Cape to Whale Head)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 50 120 60 100 45 90 40 100 50 80 35 80 40 70 30 60 25 60 30 50 20 40 15 40 20 30

10 Cpue (kg/hr) 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 Catch (tonnes) 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch:

In contrast to other parts of the Western Zone, the South Coast was fished consistently throughout the year, increasing the likelihood that catch rate trends reflect levels of abundance and that divers are not maintaining catch rates by serially depleting reefs. Low catches in September coincided with a prolonged spell of bad weather.

12A (Faults Bay to South West Cape) 12B (South West Cape to Cox ‘s Bluff)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 25 00-02 average 16 00-02 average 14 20 12

15 10 8

10 6 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 4 5 2

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 62 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

12C (Maatsuyker Group) 12D (Cox’s Bluff to Prion Beach)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 14 00-02 average 20 00-02 average 18 12 16 10 14

8 12 10 6 8 Catch (tonnes) 4 Catch (tonnes) 6 4 2 2 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 13A (Prion Beach to South Cape) 13B (South Cape to Whale Head)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 10 00-02 average 10 00-02 average 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4

Catch (tonnes) 3 Catch (tonnes) 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month

Monthly catch rates:

With few exceptions, catch rates were consistent throughout the year. The catch rate variation in February in 13A and 13B, and December in 12C, was due fishing practises of a few individual divers.

12A (Faults Bay to South West Cape) 12B (South West Cape to Cox ‘s Bluff) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 300 250

250 200

200 150 150 100 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 50

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 63 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

12C (Maatsuyker Group) 12D (Cox’s Bluff to Prion Beach) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 250 200 180 200 160 140 150 120 100 100 80 60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40 20 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

13A (Prion Beach to South Cape) 13B (South Cape to Whale Head) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 160 140

140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 20

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

Size composition of the commercial catch:

While significant differences in GMS between samples collected in 2003 and previous years were detected, they appear to be random and followed no obvious pattern. Because most sampling was from catches processed at canneries where abalone larger than 160 mm were accepted, no reduction in GMS due to imposition of an upper size- limit could be detected.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 64 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Northern Zone Blacklip Fishery – major fishing blocks

In the Northern Zone, there were considerable variations in catch between 2002 and 2003, particularly in the North West (Blocks 5 and 49) and King Island (Blocks 3 and 1) (Figure 4). In the North East, there was a large fall in catch in Block 31.

Northern Zone catch: 2003 vs 2002 100

80 49 5

3 60

40 2003 Catch (tonnes)

1 20

48 4 39 31 33 38 04735373634326402 0 40 80 120 2002 Catch (tonnes) Figure 4. Blacklip catch from the Northern Zone (Blocks 1 to 5, part of sub-block 31B and Blocks 32 to 49). In 2003, the Northern Zone TAC (280 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2002 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

Northern Zone-King Island (Blocks 1-4)

Effort has shifted from 120 140 the other three Northern Zone regions 100 120 to King Island. Catch 100 80 rates appear stable at 80 approximately 100 60 kg/hr despite the 60 escalation of effort. Catch (t)

40 CPUE (kg/hr) 40

20 20

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 65 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

35 Catch rate distributions 2000 are generally similar 30 2001 between 2001 and 2002 25 2003. In 2000, King 2003 Island was part of the 20 Western Zone and 15 produced Percentage 10 comparatively little catch. 5

0 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 1 (north-west King Island) The level of catch taken from this area in 2003 was the highest for 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate many years. It was caught mostly 40 140 35 120 by visiting divers on motherships. 30 100 25 Catch rates have not recovered to 80 20 60 previous high levels. 15 10 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Block 3 (south-west King Island) Catch increased rapidly, catch rates declined slowly. This block is the 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate most productive blacklip area on 70 140 60 120 King Island. 50 100 40 80 30 60 20 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 66 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 4 (south-east King Island) Despite minor fluctuation in level of catch, catch rates are stable. The 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate block was fished mostly by 18 160 16 140 resident divers. 14 120 12 100 10 80 8 6 60 40

4 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Sub-blocks 1C, 3A and 3C show greatly increased levels of catch. 1C was fished mostly by visiting divers in motherships, and catch rates fell after three months of intensive fishing.

1C (Whistler Point to KI Airport) 3A (Airport to Ettrick River)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 25 250 50 140 45 120 20 200 40 35 100 15 150 30 80 25 10 100 20 60 15 40 5 50 Cpue (kg/hr) 10 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 20 5 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

3C (Cataraqui Point to Seal Bay) 4C (Seal Bay to Grassy Harbour)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 18 140 9 160 16 120 8 140 14 7 100 120 12 6 100 10 80 5 80 8 60 4 6 3 60 40 40 4 Cpue (kg/hr) 2 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 20 Catch (tonnes) 1 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 67 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch:

Prior to the end of September, King Island was fished mostly by resident divers. working mostly in 3A and 4C. Motherships visited the island between late September and November.

1C (Whistler Point to KI Airport) 3A (Airport to Ettrick River)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 14 00-02 average 14 00-02 average

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

Catch (tonnes) 4 Catch (tonnes) 4

2 2

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 3C (Cataraqui Point to Seal Bay) 4C (Seal Bay to Grassy Harbour)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 14 00-02 average 4 00-02 average

12 3 10

8 2 6

Catch (tonnes) 4 Catch (tonnes) 1 2

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

Monthly catch rates:

In 1C, catch rates fell quickly and failed to recover after high levels of fishing in October and November. This effect of fishing was less in 3A and 3C. Before September, most of the catch was landed by resident divers.

1C (Whistler Point to KI Airport) 3A (Airport to Ettrick River)

00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 68 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

3C (Cataraqui Point to Seal Bay) 4C (Seal Bay to Grassy Harbour)

00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 200 250 180 160 200 140 120 150 100 80 100 60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 20 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

Northern Zone-North West (Blocks 47 – 49, Sub-blocks 5A, 5B, 5C)

While still the largest 250 120 producer of Northern Zone catch, effort has 100 200 been transferred to 80 King Island and 150 catches have dropped. 60 Catch rates appear to be stabilising at more Catch (t) 100

40 CPUE (kg/hr) than 80 kg/hr.

50 20

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

35 CPUE shifted in 2002 2000 following the rapid 30 2001 depletion of high stock 2002 25 levels. The 2003 2003 distribution closely 20 follows that of the 15 previous year, Percentage 10 suggesting stable catch rates. 5

0 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 Cpue category (kg/hr)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 69 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 5 (South Arthur Beach to Woolnorth In 2002, the level of annual Point) blacklip catch in this block was

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate capped at 100 t, but since then, 140 160 catches have not reached this level. 120 140 100 120 Better catch rates elsewhere have 100 80 80 encouraged some divers to leave 60 60 Block 5. 40

40 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 20 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue Block 49 (Woolnorth Point to Hunter Island, Effort was transferred here from including western and northern Hunter Island, Block 5. The more remote parts are and Three Hummock Island) infrequently fished, and divers are

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate able to achieve very high catch 80 140 rates. The areas closer to 70 120 60 100 Woolnorth Point are now heavily 50 80 40 exploited. 60 30 40

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue Block 48 (Woolnorth Point to the Duck River, Much of the blacklip catch here is including the eastern side of Hunter Island, the caught by divers targeting greenlip Petrels and Black Reef) The increased minimum legal size

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate for greenlip in the North West has 50 100 45 90 affected catch rates here, and 40 80 35 70 divers have moved elsewhere, thus 30 60 25 50 reducing the blacklip catch. 20 40 15 30 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Catch and catch rates in the Block 5 sub-blocks have fallen at a steady rate since the development of the Northern Zone and subsequent rapid transfer of effort there. Catch rates in 5C appear to have stabilised at 80 kg/hr. In 49B, catch and catch rates have increased following diversion of effort to lightly fished areas, although catch and catch rates have also increased in the more heavily exploited 49A and 49C. Catch rates appear to have stabilised at 55 kg/hr in 48C.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 70 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

5A (Woolnorth Point to Studland Bay) 5B (Studland Bay to Greens Beach, including Mt Cameron West)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 35 140 25 160 30 120 140 20 25 100 120 100 20 80 15 80 15 60 10 60 10 40 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 5 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 20 Catch (tonnes) 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

5C (Greens Beach to Arthur River) 49A (Three Hummock Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 80 200 20 120 70 180 18 160 16 100 60 140 14 80 50 120 12 40 100 10 60 30 80 8 60 6 40 20 40 Cpue (kg/hr) 4 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 20 10 20 2 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

49B (Northern part of Hunter Island) 49C (South-western Hunter Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 35 140 35 120 30 120 30 100 25 100 25 80 20 80 20 60 15 60 15 40 10 40 10 Cpue (kg/hr) Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 20 Catch (tonnes) 5 20 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

48C (Western part of Block 48)

4-year catch and catch-rate 14 100 90 12 80 10 70 8 60 50 6 40 4 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Monthly catch:

The more remote areas (49A, 49B) show infrequent but high monthly catches. These areas are occasionally visited by motherships with groups of divers taking large catches at infrequent intervals. The areas closer to the boat ramps (5A, 49C) were more regularly fished.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 71 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

5A (Woolnorth Point to Studland Bay) 5B (Studland Bay to Greens Beach, including Mt Cameron West)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 8 00-02 average 6 00-02 average 7 5 6 4 5

4 3

3

Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 2 2 1 1

0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 5C (Greens Beach to Arthur River) 49A (Three Hummock Island)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 18 00-02 average 7 00-02 average 16 6 14 5 12 10 4

8 3

Catch (tonnes) 6 Catch (tonnes) 2 4 1 2 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 49B (Northern part of Hunter Island) 49C (South-western Hunter Island)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 16 00-02 average 10 00-02 average 14 9 8 12 7 10 6 8 5

6 4 Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) 3 4 2 2 1 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Mar Mar Feb Feb Nov Nov Aug Sep Dec Aug Sep Dec May May Month Month 48C (Western part of Block 48)

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average

4

3

2 Catch (tonnes)

1

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

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 72 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Monthly catch rates:

In most areas, between-month variation in catch rates is high, indicating irregular fishing mortality on reefs. This suggests that divers are able to achieve high catch rates when they find reefs that are fished intermittently. Low December catch rates probably reflect the activities of divers finishing off Northern blacklip quota at the end of the year whilst also catching greenlip.

5A (Woolnorth Point to Studland Bay) 5B (Studland Bay to Greens Beach, including Mt Cameron West) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 180 250 160 140 200 120 150 100 80 100 60

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 20 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

5C (Greens Beach to Arthur River) 49A (Three Hummock Island) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 300 140

250 120 100 200 80 150 60 100 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) Catch-rate (kg/hr) 50 20

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

49B (Northern part of Hunter Island) 49C (South-western Hunter Island) 00-02 average 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 2003 180 160

160 140

140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40

Catch-rate (kg/hr) 40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20 20 0 0 Jul Jul Apr Apr Oct Oct Jan Jun Jan Jun Feb Mar Feb Mar Aug Sep Aug Sep Nov Dec Nov Dec May May Month Month

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 73 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

48C (Western part of Block 48) 00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 160

140

120

100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

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

Northern Zone-North East (Blocks 39, 40, Sub-block 31B)

The 2003 catch has 45 90 now fallen to low 40 80 levels. Abalone from 35 70 the North East do not 30 60 fit the requirements of 25 50 the live market. This 20 40 coast does not support Catch (t) the level of catch that it 15 30 CPUE (kg/hr) did prior to 1987 when 10 20 the size limit was 127 5 10 mm. Catch rates fell 0 0 sharply in 2002 and have not recovered. 2000 2001 2002 2003

45 The high proportion of 2000 40 catch in the 20-40 kg/hr 2001 category for 2002-2003 35 2002 reflects the reporting 30 2003 anomalies associated 25 with fishing for both 20 greenlip and blacklip

Percentage 15 on the same trip. 10 5 The 2003 CPUE 0 distribution is generally similar to that of the previous year, with 25-50 50-75 75-100

100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 some reduction in Cpue category (kg/hr) higher catch rate classes.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 74 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 39 (Tomahawk to Little Musselroe) Fishing occurs at irregular intervals and fluctuating annual catch rates 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 25 90 probably reflect movement of 80 20 70 divers to more productive reefs 60 15 rather than a resurgence of stock 50 40 10 levels. 30

5 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Block 31 (Little Musselroe to Musselroe Bay, Only 7 t of the 2003 catch from including Swan Island) this block was taken in the Northern Zone (the remainder was 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 100 100 Eastern Zone). 90 90 80 80 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 10 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rates:

Small catch and low, fluctuating catch rates reflect the small amount of productive coast in this area.

39A (Petal Point to Little Musselroe Bay) 31B (Little Musselroe to Musselroe Bay, including Swan Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 12 90 35 90 80 80 10 30 70 70 25 8 60 60 50 20 50 6 40 15 40 4 30 30 10

20 Cpue (kg/hr) 20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 2 Catch (tonnes) 10 5 10 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 75 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Northern Zone-Furneaux Group (Blocks 32-38)

King Island attracted 25 80 increased effort in 70 2003, so the Furneaux 20 Group blacklip stocks 60 were fished by only a 15 50 handful of divers. 40 Blacklip grow to a smaller size here, so Catch (t) 10 30

CPUE (kg/hr) only a few areas in the 20 south and east support 5 a fishery at the current 10 size limit. 0 0 Catch rates were stable. 2000 2001 2002 2003

50 Catch rate distributions 2000 45 show little change 2001 40 since the inception of 2002 35 the Northern Zone 2003 30 (2001). 25 20 Percentage 15 10 5 0 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 33 (south-east Cape Barren Island) The Furneaux Group blacklip catch is taken predominately in Block 33, 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate with lesser amounts coming from the 20 90 18 80 adjacent Block 32. 16 70 14 60 12 50 10 40 8 6 30 4 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 76 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Greenlip Fishery – major fishing blocks

The greenlip catch from Block 48 fell sharply in 2003, which was compensated by increased catches from Blocks 5 and 49. There was a catch overrun in the North East, most of which came from Block 39. The greenlip catch in Blocks 1 and 2 (King Island) increased (Figure 5).

Greenlip catch: 2003 vs 2002 30

20

31 39 33 1 48

2 35 2003 Catch(tonnes) 5 10 49

32 4 3 38 36 373440 0476 0 10 20 30 2002 Catch (tonnes)

Figure 5. Greenlip catch from Blocks 1 to 49. In 2003, the Greenlip TAC (140 tonnes) was unchanged from the previous year. Blocks to the left of the diagonal line reflect increased catches over 2002 levels, blocks to the right reflect falling catches.

Greenlip-King Island (Blocks 1-4)

High prices for King 35 70 Island greenlip and 30 60 greater numbers of visiting divers helped 25 50 lift the annual catch in 20 40 2003.

15 30 Catch rates have been Catch (t)

CPUE (kg/hr) stable for several years, 10 20 suggesting sustainable 5 10 levels of fishing.

0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 77 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

45 CPUE distribution 2000 40 suggests that catch 2001 rates improved in 2003, 35 2002 with an increase in 30 2003 catch rates between 50- 25 100 kg/hr, and a 20 reduction in catch rates

Percentage 15 at 25-50 kg/hr. 10 5 0 <25 >200 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 1 (north west King Island) Catch has increased, though is much lower than during late 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 1990’s, when large tonnages were 40 100 35 90 taken at the 132-mm size limit. 80 30 70 25 60 20 50 15 40 30

10 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 20 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Block 2 (north east King Island) Increased catch, catch rate.

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 40 90 35 80 30 70 60 25 50 20 40 15 30

10 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 78 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 4 (south east King Island) Fluctuating levels of catch, stable but low catch rates. 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 18 100 16 90 14 80 12 70 60 10 50 8 40 6 30

4 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 20 2 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Greenlip-North West (Blocks 47-49, 5)

The annual catch was 60 80 less than the 40-t cap, 70 divers preferring to fish 50 60 elsewhere. 40 50 Regional catch rates 30 40 rose, but probably not due to improved stock Catch (t) 30

20 CPUE (kg/hr) levels. Effort was 20 redirected from Black 10 Reef, where catch rates 10 were low, to the 0 0 western part of the region. 2000 2001 2002 2003

40 CPUE distribution 2000 shows some 35 2001 improvement from 30 2002 2002, with a reduction 2003 25 in the number of low 20 (<50 kg/hr) catch rates. 15 Percentage 10 5 0 <25 >200 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 Cpue category (kg/hr)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 79 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 5 (west of Woolnorth Point) Catch and catch rates improved in

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate this area. The2003 annual catch 20 140 18 (10 t) was greater than the long- 120 16 14 100 term average (8 t), despite overall 12 80 10 reduced catches from the region. 8 60 6 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 4 20 2 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue Block 49 (Woolnorth Point to Hunter Island, Catch rates appear stable, while the including Three Hummock Is.) level of catch (10 t) is twice the

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate long term average (5 t), suggesting 20 140 18 transfer of effort from Block 48. 120 16 14 100 12 80 10 8 60 6 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 4 20 2 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue Block 48 (Woolnorth Point to Duck River, The 2003 catch (14 t) in this region including Black Reef) was about half average levels (25

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate t). 2003 catch rates (51 kg/hr) were 50 100 45 90 marginally improved over 2002 40 80 35 70 (48 kg/hr), but both years were 30 60 25 50 much lower than previous levels 20 40 15 30 (65-89 kg/hr). Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Sub-block catch and catch rate:

The minimum legal size for greenlip in the North West was increased from 140 to 145 mm in 2002. Since then, divers have reported that they are unable to fish 48A (Black Reef), which historically is the area where the majority of the Block 48 catch was taken. They report that most abalone are now too small, and that they do not grow to the new legal size. In 2002, divers moved further north to 48B where there were stocks of larger abalone, but these were rapidly depleted. 48C was fished intensively in 2001, coinciding with the opening of the Northern Zone and the rapid transfer of effort to the North West of the state. Since then, catch rates have fallen sharply suggesting that levels of fishing mortality were too high.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 80 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

48A (Black Reef) 48B (Petrels, Big Stony)

4-year catch and catch-rate 4-year catch and catch-rate 20 90 9 70 18 80 8 60 16 70 7 50 14 60 6 12 50 5 40 10 40 4 8 30 30 3 6 20 4 20 Cpue (kg/hr) 2 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch (tonnes) Catch 10 2 10 1 0 0 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year Year greenlip tonnes greenlip cpue greenlip tonnes greenlip cpue

48C (East of Woolnorth Point, east of Hunter Island)

4-year catch and catch-rate 14 90 12 80 70 10 60 8 50 6 40 30 4

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) Catch 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes greenlip cpue

Greenlip-North East (Blocks 31, 39, 40)

The 2003 catch was 5 t 45 80 greater than the limit 40 70 imposed by fishery managers. Catch rates, 35 60 30 although slightly 50 improved over the 25 40 previous year, remain 20 low. Catch (t) 30

15 CPUE (kg/hr) 10 20 5 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 81 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

45 The 2003 CPUE 2000 40 distribution, while 2001 showing lower 35 2002 frequencies of higher 30 2003 catch-rates (>75 kg/hr) 25 compared with 2000- 20 2001, has improved

Percentage 15 numbers of catch rates 10 in the 25-75 kg/hr 5 range compared with 0 2002. <25 >200 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Block 31 (Little Musselroe to Cape Naturaliste) 2003 catch rates, while improved,

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate remained at low levels. Divers 30 90 80 reported that greenlip stocks at 25 70 Swan Island were depleted. 20 60 50 15 40 10 30

20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 5 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue Block 39 (Little Musselroe to Tomahawk) The annual catch from this block in

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate recent years has been at much 30 80 70 greater levels than the long term 25 60 average (8 t). Catch rates are now 20 50 15 40 falling. 30 10 In 2002, divers reported that

20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 10 inshore reefs were depleted, and 0 0 that they had resorted to fishing

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 offshore in tide affected waters. Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes They now report that these reefs mixed species cpue greenlip cpue are also depleted.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 82 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 40 (Tomahawk to Waterhouse Beach) Reefs in this block have failed to

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate produce any significant quantity of 30 120 greenlip since 2000, despite efforts 25 100 by local divers who have searched 20 80

15 60 the area.

10 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 20

0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Greenlip-Furneaux Group (Blocks 32-38)

The annual catch failed 50 70 to reach the regional 45 60 cap in 2003 as effort 40 shifted to King Island. 35 50 Catch rates remained 30 40 stable. 25 30

Catch (t) 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 15 20 10 10 5 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003

70 The CPUE distribution 2000 remains essentially 60 2001 unchanged from 2002 50 previous years. 2003 40

30 Percentage 20

10

0 <25 >200 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 Cpue category (kg/hr)

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 83 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 32 (south Cape Barren Island, Armstrong The southern part of the Furneaux Channel) Group (Blocks 32 and 33) is fished by divers operating from North 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate East Tasmania, as well as resident 16 70 14 60 divers. The level of catch is largely 12 50 dependent on the amount of quota 10 40 8 that these divers are able to obtain, 30 6 20 and is not necessarily indicative of

4 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 falling stock levels. 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Block 33 (south east Clarke, Cape Barren Islands)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 20 90 18 80 16 70 14 60 12 50 10 40 8 6 30

20 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 4 2 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Block 35 (Franklin Sound) Franklin Sound is fished mostly by resident divers. The annual catch 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate has been capped at 20 t, and the 25 70 60 fishing season limited to 6 months 20 50 between April and September in 15 40 recent years. The 20 t cap has not 10 30 20 been reached since 1998. Catch Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 10 rates are stable. 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 84 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Block 37 (north west Flinders Island) The northern parts of the Furneaux Group (Blocks 37 and 38) are 10 Year Catch and Catch-rate infrequently fished, and then 12 60

10 50 mostly by resident divers. Stocks

8 40 are sparsely distributed and found 6 30 mostly in deeper water than in the 4 20 south of the Furneaux Group. Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 2 10

0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

Block 38 (north east Flinders Island)

10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 16 70 14 60 12 50 10 40 8 30 6 20

4 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 85 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

4. Assessment of the Tasmanian abalone fishery

Eastern Zone

During 2002 and 2003, the Eastern Zone TAC was 857.5 t, with the majority of the catch coming from the southeast (Actaeons, Bruny and Storm Bay) parts of the Eastern Zone. The distribution of catch at the regional level was remarkably consistent between 2002 and 2003, particularly from the Actaeons and Bruny Island. In 2003, more than one third of the Eastern Zone catch came from the Actaeons. There was some transfer of effort and associated catch from the East Coast to Storm Bay during the period (Figure 6).

350 2002 2003 300

250

200

150

100 Annual catch (tonnes) 50

0 Actaeons Bruny Storm Bay East Coast

Figure 6. Comparison of the distribution of regional catch (tonnes) between 2002 and 2003.

Most (80 %) of the catch from the Eastern Zone is taken during the cooler months of the year (April-November) when catch rates are highest (Figure 7). Catches taken in summer are usually at relatively low catch rates, which discourages fishing unless there are compensatory factors (e.g. high beach prices immediately prior to the Chinese New Year). The best period to compare catch rates between years is therefore during winter or spring, when the greater levels of catch also help reduce between-diver effects that mask trends indicative of changes in relative abundance.

It has been reported that during December 2003 in particular, divers fished the South Coast (Western Zone) and landed catch as Eastern Zone catch. It has also been suggested that the level of this illicit reporting was sufficiently great that catch rates in Blocks 13 and 14 appeared to increase. While comparison of catch and catch rates between years from the sub-blocks within the Eastern Zone shows that unusually large catches were taken from 13C, 14D, 14E, 21A and 21C in December 2003, catch rates were within the range reported previously. Consequently the degree to which false reporting of catch has affected catch rate trends in the Eastern Zone remains unknown.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 86 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

Percentage of annual catch 2%

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

Figure 7. Eastern Zone catch by month, as a percentage of the annual catch, 1994-2003.

Actaeons

Within the Actaeons, 2003 catch and catch rates were generally better than in the previous year and the downward trend in catch rates of recent years has eased, with a small increase (<5 kg/hr) in catch rates to a geometric mean rate of 52 kg/hr. While the frequency distribution of CPUE shows overall that fewer catches have been taken at more than 60 kg/hr since 2000, between 2002 and 2003 there was a small reduction in the proportion of low catch rates (20-40 kg/hr), with a corresponding small increase in the 40-60 and 60-80 kg/hr categories. In recent years, catches from sub-blocks 13D and 13E have comprised progressively greater numbers of smaller abalone (Figure 8). The geometric mean size (GMS) of samples from the commercial catch fell between 1998 and 2001, but increased in 2002 when the size limit was increased by 4 mm.

154 152 150 148 146 144 142

Geometric mean size (mm) . 140 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year

Figure 8. Geometric mean size of abalone from samples of the commercial catch landed from sub-block 13E. Error bars show 95% confidence intervals about the mean. In conjunction with the catch size-composition data, growth rates derived from tagging studies at the Actaeons suggest that approximately 70% of the catch is taken within one year of attaining legal size (Tarbath, 2003). The larger and older abalone are extensively depleted, and the fishery has become dependent upon an annual crop of recruits. The management rule of setting the legal minimum length so that abalone are able to breed for two years before recruiting to the fishery was developed while the stocks were in a much healthier state, and when each year there was a significant

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 87 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

residual biomass of larger animals remaining on the reefs. The consequences of the reduced residual biomass include:

• reduction of levels of egg-production / larval recruitment,

• reliance upon fewer year classes for egg production, i.e. the consequences of a year class failing to contribute its share of eggs is more profound than if the responsibility for egg-production was spread over many year-classes,

• reduced catch-rates / interruptions to supply when the recruits become depleted,

• greater number of abalone must be caught to achieve the same weight than in previous years. The same tagging studies also showed that abalone growth rates were affected by seasonal variation in temperature i.e. they grew fastest during periods of highest water temperatures (January - April) with the slowest growth corresponding with the coolest water temperatures (August – October). It appears that pre-recruits to the Actaeons fishery grow rapidly during the warmest part of the year when they reach legal size, and that their subsequent entry to the fishery contributes to the higher winter catch rates (Tarbath, 2003). The numbers of recruits are steadily depleted throughout winter and early spring, when catch rates fall. Catch samples from this period in past years have shown an increase in the frequency of small abalone in late spring/early summer catches, consistent with early recruitment of some of the larger pre-recruits. In December 2003, some divers reported unusually low catch-rates at the Actaeons (~25kg/hr). This coincided with an unusually prolonged period of low water temperatures, which continued into December. It is likely that increased seasonal growth rates associated with increased water temperatures were delayed by the cooler water, with a consequent shortfall in recruits to sustain the fishery in early summer. It is noted that Actaeons catch rates in March and April 2004 were similar to those of the previous year, which indicates that the smaller abalone eventually recruited. Other parts of the Actaeons (except 13C) show similar trends. Since 2000 (no catch data for sub-blocks exist prior to this), more than half the Actaeons annual catch has come from sub-block 13E: this year approximately 180 t was landed. Catch fell sharply in 13D, and probably contributed to the increased catch- rates there. In all other sub-blocks except 13C, the downward trend in catch rates has stabilised, with marginally higher (within 5 kg/hr) catch rates in 2003. The more sheltered 14A and 14B were fished intensively in June and September as shown by the unusually large catch from these areas. Divers reported that this was due to bad weather preventing access to less sheltered reefs in other parts of these blocks. Despite the transfer of effort from the east to the west of the state and recent quota reductions (~ 45% reduction in catch from the area covered by the Eastern Zone since 1998) the combined Block 13 and 14 annual catch (i.e. the area that includes the Actaeons) has remained at high levels, averaging 500 t p.a. since 1994 (Figure 9). This area has received little or no benefit from recent quota reductions, yet displays a degree of resilience not seen in other parts of the fishery.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 88 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

600

500

400

300

200 Catch (tonnes) (tonnes) Catch 100

0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Figure 9. The combined annual catch from the Eastern Zone part of Block 13 and Block 14, 1994-2003. Because the spatial distribution of catches within Block 13 was not reported prior to 2000, the average catch for the period 2000-2003 from the Western Zone part of Block 13 was subtracted from Block 13 catches for earlier years. The 10-year average (501 t) is shown as a horizontal line.

Bruny Island

Like most parts of the Eastern Zone fishery, catch rates from Bruny Island have trended downwards for some years. However while other regions reported small increases in catch rates in 2003, catch rates from Bruny Island continued to fall, albeit at a reduced rate. The frequency distribution of CPUE shows a continual decline in catch rates from the higher categories (80-140 kg/hr) to the 40-60 kg/hr group between 2000 and 2003. At the sub-block level, catch and catch rates were generally lower than previous years, apart from 14C (which produces insignificant amounts of catch for the purposes of this assessment) and 14D, where catch rates had declined to low (< 50 kg/hr) levels in 2001. In this sub-block, while small amounts of catch were taken at better than average catch rates, the lowest monthly catch rates correspond with the months when the greatest amount of catch was landed, suggesting that stock levels are easily depleted. The amount of catch from 14E has fallen to approximately two thirds (52t) of the high 2001 levels. Most importantly, in 14E, catch rates were lower than any of the previous three years in 4 out of 6 months with significant landings. Catch-rates in Block 16 were uniformly low (< 50 kg/hr), with catch rates in only the most remote area (sub-block 16A) above this level. The size composition of the catch from 16A appears stable between years (i.e. the percentage of larger size classes seems to be relatively constant), whereas the catch from 16B, particularly between June and December 2003 has much greater percentages of smaller abalone than in earlier years, symptomatic of increased levels of depletion.

Storm Bay

Catches from the northern and eastern shores of Storm Bay, and the southern shore of the Tasman Peninsula (Blocks 17-21) have increased since 2001 despite recent quota reductions. Most of this increase occurred in Blocks 20 and 21. It appears that much of the effort formerly applied to the East Coast has been shifted to this region (Figure 6). Although there was a pronounced decline in frequency of higher catch rates (> 80 kg/hr) in 2001, since then frequency distribution have been remarkably similar,

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 89 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

suggesting consistent fishing patterns. That the annual catch has increased steadily since 2001 suggests stable or increasing stock levels. Landings of nearly 7 t were reported from 17A (includes Betsey Island) in 2003 whereas landings reported for the three previous years were less than 1 t. The best performing sub-block was 20A, where the catch increased almost threefold over the previous year, with stable to rising catch rates between 50 and 60 kg/hr. Although sharing similar coastal characteristics, the sub-block immediately to the north of 20A (17B) had much lower levels of catch and catch rates. Catch and catch rate trends in 20B suggest the level of catch was too high, whereas 20C appeared resilient to increasing levels of catch. The catch rate declines in both 21A and 21B appear to be slowing or have stopped, with 2003 catch rates similar to those of the previous year. The monthly distribution of catch varied widely between sub-blocks. 21C produced large catches in the warmer months (particularly January, November and December) at better than average catch rates. There was a decline in landings from 20B in the later part of the year as divers moved north to 20A. Block 21 produced an unusually large amount of catch in December, but overall the 2003 annual catch was less than the previous year and slightly under the long-term average (54 t). Generally, monthly catch rates were remarkably consistent throughout the year, and except for 17B and 20A, showed few indications of the end-of-year stock decline that could be expected from a fishery reliant upon an annual crop. The number of commercial catch length-frequency samples collected from catches in this region is less than desirable for an accurate appraisal of fishing activity, particularly from earlier years. However, in spite of the low sampling rate, most sub- blocks show trends in common with catches from the Actaeons: there was an increase in Geometric Mean Size (GMS) associated with the size-limit increase in 2002, followed by small but not statistically significant decreases in GMS during 2003. Visual assessment of size composition charts can be deceptive: they show much greater levels of abalone in the smaller size-classes since 2002. This change is to be expected because the size-limit increase effectively transferred abalone from the smallest to the next larger size classes. The size-limit induced change notwithstanding, most sub- blocks showed greater percentages of abalone in smaller size-classes (136-140 mm, 141-145 mm) and fewer abalone in the larger size-classes (> 160 mm) in 2003 compared to previous years. The exceptions were in 21A and 21C, where 2003 samples had similar profiles to earlier samples.

East Coast

The 2003 catch from the East Coast region (Blocks 22-31) at 217 t is the lowest since reliable catch data was first collected (1975), and contrasts with the high levels of catch in the late 1990’s, which were two to three times larger. There has been a progressive reduction in catch since 1998, initially because divers found more productive reef elsewhere, then through management induced transfer of effort (zoning), then by reducing the TAC, and most recently, divers again moved from the region because other regions within the Zone were more productive. The frequency distribution of CPUE shows a pronounced shift from high catch rates (>60 kg/hr) in 2001. In 2002 there was a further but smaller reduction in high catch rates, while the percentage of low (20-40 kg/hr) catch rates increased. Catch rates in TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 90 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

2003 were generally similar to 2002, but there was a shift from 20-40 kg/hr to the 40- 60 kg/hr category, i.e. fewer catches were made at low catch rates. While the steady catch-rate decline of recent years has stopped, in some cases reversed, mean catch rates remain below 50 kg/hr and there are few indications that recovery of stocks has commenced, despite a large reduction in catch. Because effort is low in this region, catch rate trends may be unreliable as an index of abundance. We do not know whether improved catch rates in some parts were due merely to the effort reduction, or improved levels of abalone abundance. For example, the Spring Bay - Mercury Passage region (24A, 24B, 24C) shows a pronounced catch- rate increase compared with 2002. However, the catch (12 t) is less than half the levels of 2000-2001 and consequently catch rates could be expected to improve because effort is at such low levels. This scenario is applicable throughout the East Coast region – because effort is now low, reefs are fished sporadically and catch rates are much less reliable indicators of abundance than they are in the more heavily fished areas. To supplement our understanding of abundance patterns in the region, there are several other ways of viewing the fishery data that can provide indications about levels of abundance. Firstly, the catch data shows that most sub-blocks contributed some level of catch, even though it may have been low. Divers’ catch returns from the East Coast show a consistent pattern: many divers fished across a range of sub-blocks before settling on one or two areas. It appears that divers spent considerable time searching areas where they had in past years taken good catches before finding productive reef. Consequently, the East Coast catch was taken from a smaller range of sub-blocks than in previous years. Associated with this pattern of fishing activity, the 2003 catch data also show that divers tended to congregate in areas with acceptable levels of catch rates. When divers found good stock levels and consistently landed reasonable catches, they tended to re- visit the area until catch rates fell and not move to other areas as they might have done when fishable stocks were more widely dispersed. Other divers became aware that good catches were being landed, and moved to those places. An example of this behaviour occurred in sub-block 23A. Catches and catch rates were low until April, when catch rates rose sharply. At this stage, just five divers had fished the area. From then until the end of July, the cumulative catch increased from 1.7 to 9.3 tonnes and an additional 11 divers fished the area. Although some divers returned later and occasionally good catches were landed, mean monthly catch rates eventually fell to below 40 kg/hr. This pattern of behaviour is also evident in the unusual patterns of monthly catch in sub-blocks 27A, 27B and 29A. In these few sub-blocks where effort reaches this level of intensity, and reefs are fished regularly, catch rates may reliably reflect abundance. If so, they indicate that stock levels are easily affected by fishing and suggest that any recovery from 2002 has been negated by fishing in 2003. At best, stock levels in these few productive areas could be considered stable. It is also noted that the better performing sub-blocks (e.g. 23A, 27A, 27B and 29A) were typically the most distant from launching ramps, whilst the sub-blocks showing the greatest reduction in annual catch and lower catch rates are usually more accessible (e.g. sub-blocks 23B, 27C, 27D). Assuming that divers generally choose to fish closer to the ramp in a cost-effective manner but must move further away to obtain economic

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 91 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003 levels of catch indicates that reefs in the closer sub-blocks have been depleted. This pattern of fishing (serial depletion) probably contributed to major declines of abalone populations on reefs since the 1980’s in Blocks 28 and 30, both of which are relatively close to population centres. Sampling of commercial catches has been limited, particularly in earlier years. Samples from the northern part of the East Coast were collected only in the winter months, because fishing mostly takes place at that time. Despite the low frequency of sampling, all showed significant increases (P < 0.05) in GMS between 2002 and previous years due to the size limit increase. However, samples collected from the East Coast in 2003 mostly showed reduced GMS compared with 2002 (i.e. abalone were collected at a smaller mean size), though this was not significant (P < 0.05) in 22B and 23A. At 24D, GMS increased slightly. Interpreting these changes in GMS is difficult, particularly because sampling has been infrequent. That the effect of the change in size limit could be detected makes the process credible. While changes in individual blocks may reflect limited sampling, seasonal changes and patterns in site selection by divers, there was a trend in all sub- blocks except one towards a smaller GMS. This means that catches now comprise smaller abalone than previously, which could either be interpreted to mean that recruitment has increased, or that even at the current low levels of catch, stock depletion is continuing.

Western Zone

In 2003, the TAC was unchanged at 1260 tonnes. However, compared with 2002, there was considerable transfer of effort among blocks. This shift in effort arose for several reasons, primarily declining catch rates in some blocks, live market preferences and blocks targeted for higher meat recovery rates by canners. Catches fell by over 40% in Block 6, and to a lesser extent in Block 9 and 13, but were compensated for by increases in Blocks 7 and 10 (Figure 3).

This assessment of the Western Zone fishery depends almost entirely upon analysis of catch and catch-rate trends. Information from catch sampling was too infrequent to detect changes in the size composition of the catch. Most of the sampling of Western Zone catches was done at canneries, which in 2003 were prepared to take abalone larger than the upper 160-mm size limit imposed by live market buyers. Consequently, we were unable to detect changes in GMS caused by the reported Industry imposed upper size limit. There were significant differences in GMS between samples collected in 2003 and previous years, but there were no consistent trends that could be attributed to changes in size caused by variation in levels of fishing mortality.

Advice was sought from divers about the impacts upon catch rates of fishing to an upper size limit. They voiced concerns that by observing the upper size limit imposed by processors, they needed to collect greater numbers of smaller abalone than in previous years to land the same weight. This might have an impact both on catch rates, and place increasing pressure on a smaller size class of abalone. However, despite their concerns, it was difficult to detect any reduction in catch rates, and even more difficult to decide whether those reductions were due to the size limit or to stock depletion.

North West TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 92 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Almost all the catch from the Western Zone part of the North West is taken from Block 6 (approximately 1 t p.a. is landed in sub-block 5D). Catch rates here have declined steadily since 2000, after catch levels had increased several years previously. The 2003 decline was more pronounced than in previous years. The CPUE distribution shows that the mode has shifted to the next smallest category; catches taken at 50-75 kg/hr have doubled, while the number of catches taken at higher catch rates (>150 kg/hr) have halved over recent years. All parts of Block 6 have been affected, although the most remote part, 6D, less so.

As a means of protecting stock levels, local divers requested the size limit north of 6D be raised from 132 mm to 136 mm (in 6D, the size limit is 140 mm). This measure took effect in 2003, and may have temporarily reduced the fishable biomass in the first part of the year (until the abalone between 132 and 136 mm grew larger than the new size limit). Catch rates and catch fell sharply in the three northern sub-blocks, but it is unclear whether this was in response to the increase in minimum size or to continuing stock depletion. Certainly, the fishery showed no signs of improvement later in the year when the smaller abalone could be considered to have recruited, and by comparison, other parts of the West Coast were then performing well. In 6D, where the size limit was unchanged, catch rates were mostly as low or lower than previous levels. It therefore seems likely that the primary cause of low catch/catch rates in Block 6 is that stocks are too depleted to sustain recent levels of fishing.

The previous stock assessment observed that fishable biomass was probably falling in this region (Tarbath et al., 2003). Catch records show that much of this block is now fished year round, i.e. abalone stocks do not receive the protection that other parts of the West Coast receive when bad weather prevents fishing. The close proximity of Block 6 with the other zones in the North West (Northern, greenlip, Bass Strait) means that some divers frequent the area year round and are able to fish Block 6 whenever weather and sea conditions permit. Despite a long-term average catch of 168 t, it appears that this block can no longer sustain fishing at that level.

The increased size limit has increased the level of protection to abalone populations, and divers reported that there are now much larger numbers of undersize abalone than before. They also believed they were required to measure abalone more frequently, which together with depleted stocks, reduced their catch rates. It was observed that when catch rates fell to between 80 and 100 kg/hr, divers moved to the other regions, particularly the Central West, where catch rates were better. This was the principle reason why the annual catch in Block 6 declined by 40% in 2003.

Central West

The decline in catch from the North West (Block 6) was partially met by increased levels of catch in the Central West, particularly from landings at Granville Harbour (Block 7). Several divers transferred their operations south from Couta Rocks to Granville Harbour because stock levels and consequently catch rates were higher. It is reported that abalone from Blocks 7 and 8 were particularly sought after by canning processors because they produced superior yields compared with abalone from other parts of the Western Zone. Consequently, the 2003 annual catch from Block 7 was very high; almost double the long-term average, and in response to the escalation of effort, catch rates, stable for many years, were generally lower across the region in 2003. The

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 93 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003 distribution of CPUE is similar to that of 2001, although the frequency of higher catch rate categories was reduced in 2003.

In remote 7A, the annual catch doubled. Divers from Couta Rocks travelled by boat further south in search of higher stock levels, and the increased number of divers operating from Granville Harbour shifted effort to the more remote parts of the region. Closer to the ramp, catch from 7B almost doubled and from 7C increased more than three-fold over the previous year. In past years, Blocks 7 and 8 have been fished only in good weather conditions, which occur less frequently in winter. Despite this, divers fished the more accessible parts of Block 7 at unusually high levels in winter in 2003. Catch rates responded to the increased level of catch by falling in all areas except 8A, and are now in the range 140 to 150 kg/hr.

Catches from Block 9 were down for the fourth consecutive year. Catch rates continued to decline slowly, although remained at relatively high levels. The reduced catch appears to be a response by divers to better catch rates and more favourable fishing conditions elsewhere. Immediately south of Strahan, 9B catches were reduced to one third of 2000 levels, with catch rates stabilising, although the low catch rates between March and May are of concern. Catches in the more remote 9C have also fallen, with catch rates fluctuating between 150 and 170 kg/hr during the past three years.

South West

Since 2001, the annual catch in the South West has progressively increased by approximately 10% p.a. to 585 t. The most recent increase has come principally from Block 10 (where the 2003 catch was almost double the long term average), and most of that has come from 10D where it is reported the abalone are of smaller size and therefore more acceptable to processors. The annual catch from the other sub-blocks of the region fluctuates between years, with falls in some areas compensated by increases in others.

Catch rates have gradually fallen from very high levels, settling at about 150 kg/hr. Market preferences for smaller abalone and the reported refusal of processors to accept large abalone (> 160 mm shell length) must contribute in part to the lower catch rates in 2003, and given the prevalence of large abalone in this region, it is remarkable that catch rates did not fall further.

The CPUE distribution indicates stable catch rate patterns, with broadly similar frequency distributions when catch rates are grouped at 50 kg/hr, albeit with some loss from the higher catch rate categories since 2000. When grouped in smaller categories (25 kg/hr), the distributions are multi-modal, with peaks and troughs occurring mostly at identical categories (Figure 10). All years share an inflexion at 75-100 kg/hr, a trough at 175-200 kg/hr, another mode at 200-225 kg/hr and inflexions in the larger categories.

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30 2000 2001 25 2002 2003 20

15

Percentage 10

5

0 <50 >400 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 250-275 275-300 300-325 325-350 350-375 375-400 Cpue category (kg/hr)

Figure 10. Catch rates from the South West region, grouped at intervals of 25 kg/hr.

The development of multiple modes in the CPUE distribution appears to be influenced by the way divers operate in the South West, where time and motivation, instead of abundance, limit daily catch weights. Figure 11, the distribution of daily catches, is similarly multi-modal, divers working until 1000, 1200 or 2000 kg is landed. The consistency of these patterns is remarkable, and lends support to the divers’ views that stock levels in the region are stable.

16 2000 14 2001 2002 12 2003 10 8 6 Percentage 4 2 0 <100 200-300 400-500 600-700 800-900 1000-1100 1200-1300 1400-1500 1600-1700 1800-1900 2000-2100 Daily landed weight (kg)

Figure 11. Frequency distribution of daily landed weights from South West Tasmania, 2000 to 2003.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 95 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

However, there are differences between 2003 daily catches and those from earlier years, specifically an increased proportion of smaller catches, and less larger catches (Figure 11). While this may indicate that high stock levels are being depleted, it must also reflect the requirements of the live market (more careful handling to reduce mortality, fishing to an upper size limit), the catch limits placed upon divers by buyers during the outbreak of SARS in 2003, and the increasing tendency to split daily catches across dockets.

South Coast

The reported 2003 annual catch from this region was reduced by approximately 10% to almost 300 t in 2003. Levels of catch varied between sub-blocks, the annual catch from 12D (Cox’s Bight to Prion Bay) declining whereas the catch from offshore islands (12C) increased. Catch from the more accessible 13A and 13B (Prion Bay to Whale Head) also fell relative to 2002.

Catch rates were generally similar to those of previous years, or slightly improved. The more remote areas have higher catch rates than the eastern sub-blocks (12D, 13B and 13A), reflecting greater levels of effort in the east and the comparative ease with which they can be reached by small boat from Southport. Previous assessments expressed concern at the high level of fishing and falling catch rates in these sub-blocks where catch and catch rates trends indicated continuing depletion (Tarbath et al., 2003). In 2003, divers reduced effort in this area, and catch rates improved. They are still low by Western Zone standards - approximately 90 kg/hr in 13A and 13B, but it is difficult to assess whether this indicates stock depletion, divers attempting to catch Western Zone quota in adverse conditions or market preferences for small abalone. The CPUE distribution shows some improvement with lower percentages of catch rates in categories between 50 and 100 kg/hr compared with the previous year.

In contrast to other parts of the Western Zone, the South Coast was fished in all months, although divers reported that bad weather in September limited fishing effort. The regularity of fishing and comparatively high level of exploitation, particularly on the more accessible coast, improves the likelihood that catch rates trends reflect changes in abundance (Andrew et al., 1997). The catch rate variation during February in 13A and 13B, and December in 12C was due to fishing practises of a few individual divers (finishing off quota at the end of the year, accommodating market preferences for abalone of various sizes).

Northern Zone

There were considerable differences in the distribution of effort among blocks between 2003 and 2002. Catches increased by more than 25% in Block 49, into which effort was transferred from Block 5 (North West), and increased catches were also taken from Blocks 1 and 3 (King Island), into which effort was transferred from the other Northern Blacklip regions. The North West continues to be the predominant supplier of Northern Zone blacklip (~60%), with King Island now producing about 35%.

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North West

Across the region, catch rates are stabilising at moderate levels (80 kg/hr) following the rapid removal of easily accessible stocks that had built up after a prolonged period of low fishing activity prior to the establishment of the Northern Zone in 2001. The CPUE distribution follows that of the previous year, confirming a pattern of stable catch rates.

In 2002, the annual Block 5 catch was capped at 100 t following concerns at the high level of fishing mortality on stocks and a corresponding rapid drop in catch rates. Since then the annual catch has not reached the cap and the rate of decline of catch rates has slowed in the two northern sub-blocks (5A and 5B), and stabilised in 5C at 80 kg/hr.

There was a corresponding increase in catch in Block 49. The more remote parts (49B) were infrequently fished but were periodically visited by motherships, the divers from which were able to achieve high catch rates. In most areas, between-month variation in catch rates was high, indicating irregular fishing mortality on reefs. This suggests that divers achieved high catch rates by finding intermittently fished reefs. The areas closer to Woolnorth Point must now be considered heavily exploited, and divers who have fished there regularly report that blacklip stocks are depleted. Despite this, catch and catch rates in the sub-block increased, presumably because some parts are still lightly exploited.

Catch rates in 48C were much lower, but stabilised at 55 kg/hr. The catch also fell. Much of the blacklip catch here was caught by divers targeting greenlip. The increased minimum legal size for greenlip in the North West affected catch rates in Block 48, and divers moved elsewhere, thus reducing the blacklip catch.

King Island

The King Island blacklip catch increased by 35 t to 98 t. Catch rates appear to be stable despite the escalation of effort. The distribution of CPUE has been generally similar among years since the implementation of the Northern Zone in 2001. In 2000, King Island was part of the Western Zone and produced comparatively little catch.

For most of 2003 (January to September) King Island was fished by resident divers working predominately in 3A and 4C. From late September, the island was visited by a number of motherships that took large catches, mostly from the western half of the island (1C, 3A, 3C). The level of catch taken from this area in 2003 was the highest for many years. In 1C, catch rates fell quickly and failed to recover after high levels of fishing in October and November. Monthly catch rates declined in 3A and 3C also, but not as quickly as in 1C. These declines are consistent with depletion of fishable biomass.

Estimates of the potential yield from King Island identified during the development of the Northern Zone were based on catches during the early 127-mm size limit period, which were assumed to be sustainable (Tarbath and Officer, 2003). It has been recently reported that Block 2 no longer has commercially viable stocks because abalone, while abundant, fail to grow to legal size in sufficient quantities. The average catch from King Island prior to 1987 (when the 132-mm size limit was introduced) was 85 t, so the

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current level, particularly without Block 2 catch, may be excessive. King Island is probably now producing blacklip at or beyond maximum capacity.

North East

The annual catch from the region has now fallen to low levels. This is partially because abalone from the North East do not fit the requirements of the live market and consequently attract a lower beach price. However, low catch rates across the region suggest it can no longer support historical levels of catch and generally reflect the small amount of productive coast in this area. Catch rates fell sharply in 2002 and have not recovered. The 2003 CPUE distribution was generally similar to that of the previous year, but with some reduction in higher catch-rate categories. Divers report that while the fishable biomass was extensively depleted, pre-recruits were abundant. This is consistent with a fishery that receives high levels of protection from the size limit.

Improved annual catch rates in Block 39 reflect movement of divers to more productive reefs within this block, rather than a resurgence of stock levels. In Block 31, catch rates were stable at low levels, but the catch was only 7 t, down from 30 t in 2002.

Furneaux Group

When the Northern Zone opened in 2001, mothership divers visited the Furneaux Group because of the opportunity of fishing both greenlip and Northern blacklip. More recently, most of their effort has been directed to King Island. A few resident divers now mostly fish this region.

Blacklip grow to a smaller size in the Furneaux Group, so only a limited area in the south and east support a fishery at the current size limit (Tarbath and Officer, 2003). The blacklip catch is taken predominately in Block 33, with lesser amounts coming from the adjacent Block 32. Catch rates were stable, and CPUE distributions show little change since the Northern Zone started (2001).

Greenlip fishery

The distribution of catch within the four regions of the greenlip fishery has been set by managers with annual catch limits of 40 t in the North West, 42 t in the Furneaux Group and 30 t in the North East. This left the remainder of the TAC (28 t) to be taken from King Island.

In 2003, the catch from the North West and the Furneaux Group fell to 34 t and 38 t respectively, while in the North East and King Island the catch increased to 35 t and 33 t respectively. There was a catch overrun in the North East, most of which came from Block 39. The greenlip catch in Blocks 1 and 2 (King Island) increased. An insignificant quantity of greenlip catch (~70 kg) was taken in waters bounded by the Bass Strait blacklip zone. The level of sampling of divers’ catches undertaken by TAFI was insufficient to indicate changes in the size composition of the annual catch caused by fishing mortality.

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North West

The lower greenlip catch in the North West can be mostly attributed to reduced levels of catch from Block 48. Catches in Blocks 5 and 49 increased to levels above long-term averages, but not enough to meet the management target. No catch was taken from Block 47.

Catch rates increased sharply in Block 5, showed no change in Block 49 after a prolonged fall and increased slightly in Block 48. In all areas, mean annual catch rates were above 50 kg/hr. In previous years, catch and catch rates fell in all blocks, and in 2003 it was recommended that the management cap be reduced (Tarbath et al., 2003). The variation in catch rates and reduced level of catch suggest that catch rates reflect fleet dynamics, and not just abundance.

Between 2000 and 2003, more than 70 different divers fished the North West. This contrasts with the other greenlip regions (36 - 43 divers). Many of these divers, while experienced abalone divers, had minimal knowledge or experience of catching greenlip in the North West, and of the 70 divers, only 25 had landed more than one tonne of greenlip from this area in any of the years 2000-2003. The year with the lowest catch rates (2002) coincided with the greatest number of different divers contributing to the catch (51). Many of the divers who fished in 2002 were new to the area, but with the benefit of that experience, managed to increase their catch rates in 2003. We therefore suspect that the increase in catch rates does not necessarily mean that abundance increased, but that catch rates were affected by effort creep due to a group of divers who became more efficient.

To diminish the effect of effort creep or any other fleet dynamics, the catch data from five selected divers were reviewed (Figure 12). These divers were the only ones to continuously land significant levels of greenlip catch (> 1 t) in the North West for the period 2000-2003. Between the five of them, they landed between 27% and 40% of the regional catch in each of the four years. The group did not fish continuously in one sub- block, or even one block during the period, so their catch rates could only be reviewed on a regional basis. Their catch rates were variable, both between years and between divers but progressively declined from an average of 87 kg/hr to 60 kg/hr. We conclude that the declining catch rates, coupled with the reduced annual catch from the region, probably reflect falling abundance.

The size-limit was raised by 5 mm in the North West in 2002. The increased size limit was supported by research which concluded that at high levels of fishing mortality, a size limit of 143 mm or greater was needed to conserve adequate levels of egg production in the region (Officer, 1999). Subsequently, divers reported that at Black Reef (48A) they were no longer able to obtain reasonable catch rates, because fewer abalone grew to the new legal size. Consequently, the 48A annual catch has fallen significantly, while divers reported that undersized abalone were abundant. The 40 t North West catch limit was set using historical catch levels that included high levels of catch from Black Reef at a lower size limit. Should Black Reef fail to provide its share of catch, effort will be transferred elsewhere, probably to populations that are unable to support greater fishing mortality.

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100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Geometric mean catch rate (Kg/hr) 2000 2001 2002 2003

Figure 12. Geometric mean annual catch rates of five divers who landed more than one tonne per annum from the North West greenlip fishery, 2000-2003.

King Island

High prices for King Island greenlip and greater numbers of visiting divers helped lift the annual catch in 2003. CPUE distributions suggest that catch rates have improved since 2002. While the catch has increased, it is currently much lower than during late 1990’s, when more than 70 t p.a. were taken at the 132 mm size limit.

However, despite the improved catch and catch rates, which should indicate stable, or increasing abundance, diver reports were to the contrary. Principal among their claims were that the areas that used to support good catches have become depleted, and that the areas that supported large catches at smaller size limits in the past cannot now be fished because the abalone there are too small.

The reports concerning depletion came from several divers, both resident and visiting, who have worked at King Island in recent years. Resident divers accounted for almost two thirds of the 2003 catch. They said that reefs where abalone were formerly abundant and provided good catch rates have not recovered from recent fishing. They were able to maintain levels of catch and catch rates only by moving to new reefs, which subsequently were also depleted.

The current size limit (150 mm) is below that recommended by Officer (1999). He found that to maintain egg production above levels required to sustain the fishery, a minimum size limit of 154 mm was required at moderate levels of fishing mortality (F=0.6, or 45% p.a.), rising to 162 mm for isolated populations at higher levels of fishing mortality (F=1.0, or 63% p.a.). In 2000, a size limit of 155 mm was introduced at King Island, but was reduced to 150 mm two years later because it prevented fishing much of the island’s stocks. The divers argued that fishing effort was disproportionately supported by the larger, faster growing populations at higher levels of fishing mortality than were ever contemplated. Divers became concerned at the levels at which these populations were being depleted, and successfully argued that the size limit be reduced to 150 mm so that effort could be more widely spread.

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North East

The North East catch increased from the level of the previous two years (~31 t) to overrun the regional cap by 4 t in 2003. Catches increased from both Blocks 31 and 39, the areas where greenlip are mostly fished. The catch from Block 40 is now negligible after producing 25 t in 1998 and 12 t in 2000. CPUE distribution shows improvement from 2002, but with low catch rates modal at 25-50 kg/hr. Catch rates from Block 31 increased sharply, and fell slightly in Block 39. Catch and catch rate trends suggest that the fishery in 2003 while less productive than earlier years, was stable and that levels of catch were sustainable. This contrasts with the 2002 fishery assessment, which noted that catch rates were falling and that divers had reported depleted inshore reefs. It recommended that the level of catch be reduced (Tarbath et al., 2003).

Approximately 40 different divers fished the North East between 2000 and 2003. However, each year, between one third and one half of the catch was taken by the same two divers. These divers report that contrary to the current catch and catch rate trends, the level of fishing in the North East is not sustainable. Like the King Island divers, they were able to maintain levels of catch and catch rates only by moving to relatively unfished reefs. Several years ago, inshore reefs became depleted, and they then moved offshore into deeper water. These deeper reefs have become progressively depleted, and with scant signs of recovery in the reefs that were first depleted, they doubt that the North East will continue to provide recent levels of catch. They both strongly believe that too much catch has been taken from the North East, and the local cap should be reduced.

These divers have had no difficulty with fishing to the current size limit. They say that most of the abalone that they see are of legal size, and are taken. Officer (1999) found that at moderate levels of fishing mortality (F=0.6), minimum recommended levels of egg production could be maintained with a size limit of 144 mm, while at higher levels of fishing mortality (F=1.0), more vulnerable populations could achieve sufficient egg production with a 153 mm size limit. The North East size limit was 132 mm prior to 1999, 150 mm in 1999 and 145 mm since 2000.

The 30 t cap and the relatively recent increase in size limit may have failed to protect this fishery. The level of fishing mortality has been higher than expected, the populations more isolated, and the degree of egg production inadequate for stock maintenance. One diver pointed out that while the area of reef and rocky coastline was much smaller than found in the other three greenlip producing regions, the annual catch was similar.

The 30 t cap was estimated from the arithmetic mean of the annual catch 1975-2003 from Blocks 31, 39 and 40. Occasionally, the annual catch for this region was very high and at unsustainable levels: over 60 t during the mid-1980’s. The frequency distribution of annual catches is non-normal, instead being skewed towards smaller catches. The geometric mean (26 t) is a more appropriate statistic for skewed distributions. As a consequence of the recent depletion, it is unlikely that a catch limit of 30 t, higher than the long term geometric mean catch, is sustainable.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 101 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Furneaux Group

The annual catch, which between 2000 and 2002 was approximately 42 t, was lower in 2003 at 38 t. The fall was not due to low levels of abundance, but to higher prices paid for King Island greenlip, and easier access to stocks in the North East, which combined to divert effort away from the Furneaux Group.

Catch rates were steady at approximately 60 kg/hr over the four-year period. The distribution of CPUE has been remarkably consistent between years. These catch and catch rate trends indicate that abundance levels are stable or increasing, and are unlikely to be decreasing.

Although 36 divers fished the Furneaux Group between 2000 and 2003, over half the catch was taken by just three resident divers. One of these divers has caught between 20% and 50% of the catch in any of the four years. In his opinion, abundance levels are stable in the Furneaux Group. He says that stock levels on reefs recover after fishing, and there are no indications of depletion.

There are two factors which appear to have contributed to the stability of the Flinders Island fishery. Firstly, following a period of high levels of catch, falling catch rates and concerns about declining stocks during the 1990’s, the TAC was eventually capped at 42 t. This cap is considerably lower than the geometric mean (70 t) of the annual catches 1975-2003.

Secondly, the size limit (140 mm prior to 1999) was raised, initially to 150 mm, but then reduced to 145 mm. Compared with the other three regions, this was very conservative. At moderate levels of fishing mortality (F=0.6), Officer (1999) found that a 132-mm size limit would conserve adequate levels of egg production (40% EPR), while at high levels of fishing mortality (F=1.0) in more vulnerable populations, a 142- mm size limit should suffice. In recent years, much of the Furneaux Group catch has been sold to a single processor (Furneaux Aquaculture Pty Ltd), which pays a premium for larger abalone (> 160 mm). Abalone are taken below this size (i.e. between 145 and 160 mm) only if they appear to have stopped growing or are slow growing. Effectively, the size limit across much of the fishery is considerably greater than the recommended minimum, and has clearly been beneficial to the stocks in this region.

Regional summary:

Eastern Zone

• Actaeons - stock levels are stable, and less likely to be decreasing.

• Bruny Island – stock levels are most likely falling, with a lesser probability that stock levels are stable.

• Storm Bay - stock levels are stable, and less likely to be decreasing.

• East Coast - stock levels are most likely falling, with a lesser probability that stock levels are stable.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 102 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Northern Zone

• North East - stock levels have been extensively depleted but CPUE is now stable at a low level.

• North West - stock levels have been depleted but are now probably stable, or less likely, decreasing slowly.

• Furneaux Group – stock levels are stable.

• King Island - stock levels are becoming depleted but are still at high levels.

Western Zone

• North West - stock levels have been extensively depleted but are now stable.

• Central West - stock levels are most likely falling, with a lesser probability that stock levels are stable.

• South West – stock levels are stable, but unlikely to support size selective fishing in the longer term.

• South Coast - stock levels have been depleted but are now stable.

Greenlip Fishery

• North East - stock levels have been extensively depleted, with few signs of recovery.

• North West - stock levels in all areas except 48A are probably falling, less likely to be stable. In 48A, divers report large quantities of abalone smaller than the 145 mm size limit.

• Furneaux Group – stock levels are probably increasing.

• King Island - stock levels have been extensively depleted and continue to fall. Parts of the island support considerable stocks of greenlip that are too small to economically fish.

Bass Strait Central Zone

The fishery has been operating for one year. We have insufficient data to make comparisons that indicate changes in stock levels. However, it is considered that the 70 tonne TAC will only be sustainable if effort is more widely distributed, particularly to Flinders Island and to the Tasmanian mainland, rather than focussed on small and isolated sections of coastline.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 103 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

5. Other fisheries

Recreational fishery

The number of licenses issued for the fishing season 1 November 2002 to 31 October 2003 was 9272, 15% greater than the previous season, and 25% greater than in 2000/2001 (Figure 13). The annual recreational catch for this period was estimated at 133,711 (95% CI: 112,469-160,451) or approximately 67 tonnes (Lyle and Morton, 2004). Approximately half the catch was taken from the southeast (between Marion Bay and Whale Head), with another 25% taken from further north on the East Coast. Compared with the commercial catch (2607.5 t in 2003), the recreational catch is insignificant, yet because it is taken mostly from the more accessible parts of the coast, and often from depleted areas of the Eastern Zone, it may adversely affect stock recovery in those areas.

Indigenous, illegal and permit fisheries

Abalone are caught in Tasmanian waters as part of cultural fishing activities by indigenous people, under exploratory permits for special events, 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.

10000

8000

6000

4000 Licenses issued Licenses 2000

0 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 Fishing season

Figure 13. The number of recreational abalone diving licenses issued for the fishing seasons 1995-2003.

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6. Recommendations for managers

The increases in TAC that started in 1997 and the subsequent creation of zones more recently 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 may need to manage the fishery more conservatively (perhaps with an increased number of controls and regulations to ensure that adequate stock levels are sustained). In particular, a rebuilding strategy is required in the Eastern Zone.

The reliance upon catch and effort data to monitor trends in abundance has been demonstrated to be inappropriate, and its usage has been associated with the collapse of many abalone fisheries. We continue to stress the inadequacy of this method in many parts of the Tasmanian fishery, and strongly recommend the implementation of a fishery-independent abundance survey program.

In the Eastern Zone, stocks continue to be at low levels. Slight increases or stability in catch rates in the Actaeons and Storm Bay may be the precursor of stock recovery, but would need to be observed for more than one year before this indicates a real reversal of the current depletion. Neither Bruny Island nor the East Coast exhibited signs of recovery. Divers have diverted some effort away from the East Coast, and coupled with the recent 70 t reduction in Eastern Zone TAC for 2004, this should aid the recovery of stock levels on the East Coast. It is recommended that the performance of the four regions within the Eastern Zone should be reviewed in September 2004. If signs of recovery are not seen at either the East Coast or Bruny Island, or catch rates at the Actaeons or Storm Bay fail to continue exhibiting an improvement, then the sustainability of current fishing would have to be questioned and management responses would be required.

We continue to recommend that Block 30 (St Helens to Eddystone Point) be closed temporarily to abalone fishing by all fishers. While commercial divers have effectively abandoned the region, recreational fishers continue to deplete the more accessible stocks.

In the 2002 assessment, it was suggested that it would be prudent to place annual catch limits on the catches in Western Zone Blocks 6, 12 and 13. While this recommendation was not implemented in 2003 it was the case that divers found better fishing elsewhere in the zone, and the catch was below the suggested limits, particularly in Block 6. There are now indications of recovery in Blocks 12 and 13. The divers transferred much of the effort to Blocks 7 and 8, the former’s annual catch being double the long-term average. Abalone from Blocks 7 and 8 are particularly favoured by processors, so it may be assumed that divers will continue to take high levels of catch here while they have the opportunity. This level of fishing mortality is depleting stocks and is clearly unsustainable. We recommend that the performance of Blocks 7 and 8 be reviewed in September 2004, watching for evidence of CPUE declines, and to

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 105 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003 ensure there isn’t a second year of excessive catch. If indications of depletion are present, then managers must respond to limit catches to more sustainable levels.

Effort in the Northern Zone has been transferred out of the most depleted parts of the North West (Block 5) and the North East, to King Island, where, in recent years we have indicated that the fishery was relatively under-exploited. King Island is probably now producing blacklip at or beyond maximum capacity. Some of the island’s stocks produce no worthwhile catch at the recently reduced 127-mm size limit, whereas they did prior to 1987. It is recommended that managers request a review be undertaken concerning information about size limits and yield for the King Island blacklip fishery and re-assess the ability of the region to provide current levels of catch.

The Greenlip fishery, like other Australian fisheries for this species, is beset with problems of sustainability and local depletion. Catch and catch-rate trends are inadequate indicators of abundance, much more so than in the blacklip fishery. In the North West, the recent minimum legal size increase has caused effort from one of the most productive parts (Black Reef) to be transferred onto fully exploited stocks elsewhere within the region. In the North East and King Island, divers report extensive depletion, with little or no recruitment, and say that recovery of stocks is not possible at current catch levels. On King Island, divers report the presence of stocks that were once heavily fished but that do not grow to the recently introduced larger size limits. It is strongly recommended that managers must review catch- and size-limits in the North East, North West and King Island, and in conjunction with researchers, explore methods for making slower or smaller growing stocks available to the fishery once more.

In the Recreational fishery, surveys indicated that approximately three quarters of the estimated 67 tonne annual (November 2002-October 2003) catch comes from the Eastern Zone. Since 1996, recreational effort has escalated, with sales of recreational abalone dive licenses increasing by more than 10% p.a. Recreational effort has the potential to undermine management attempts to halt stock declines, particularly in the more vulnerable parts of the East Coast, and we recommend that managers continue to monitor levels of recreational catch.

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References

Andrew, N. L., Worthington, D. G. and Brett, P. A. (1997). Size-structure and growth of individuals suggest high exploitation rates in the fishery for blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in New South Wales, Australia. Molluscan Research 18, 275-287. Breen, P. A. (1992). A review of models used for stock assessment in abalone fisheries. In 'Abalone of the world: biology, fisheries and culture.' (eds. S. A. Shepherd, M. J. Tegner and S. A. Guzmán del Próo), pp. 253-275. (Blackwell: Oxford). Gorfine, H. K. (2001). Diver behaviour and its influence on assessments of a quota-managed abalone fishery. Journal of Shellfish Research 20, 787-794. Harrison, A. J. (1983). The Tasmanian abalone fishery. Tasmanian Fisheries Research 26, 1-42. Hart, A. M., Hall, N. and Syers, C. (1999). Stock assessment and modelling for management of the WA greenlip abalone fishery. Fisheries Western Australia, Perth. Hilborn, R. and Walters, C. J. (1992). 'Quantitative fisheries stock assessment: choice, dynamics and uncertainty.' 1st Edn. (Chapman and Hall: London). Lyle, J. M. and Morton, A. J. (2004). Survey of the 2002/03 Tasmanian recreational rock lobster and abalone fisheries. Technical report, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart. McShane, P. E. (1995). Estimating the abundance of abalone: the importance of patch size. Marine and Freshwater Research 46, 657-662. Officer, R. A. (1999). Size limits for greenlip abalone in Tasmania. Technical Report, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart. Officer, R. A., Gorfine, H. K. and Dixon, C. D. (2000). Movement and re-aggregation of the blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, after fishing. Journal of Shellfish Research. Prince, J. D. (1992). Using a spatial model to explore the dynamics of an exploited stock of the abalone Haliotis rubra. In 'Abalone of the world: biology, fisheries and culture.' (eds. S. A. Shepherd, M. J. Tegner and S. A. Guzmán del Próo), pp. 305-317. (Blackwell: Oxford). Prince, J. D. and Shepherd, S. A. (1992). Australian abalone fisheries and their management. In 'Abalone of the world: biology, fisheries and culture.' (eds. S. A. Shepherd, M. J. Tegner and S. A. Guzmán del Próo). (Blackwell: Oxford). Rose, G. A. and Kulka, D. W. (1999). Hyperaggregation of fish and fisheries: how catch-per-unit-effort increased as the northern cod (Gadus morhua) declined. Canadian Journal of Fishery and Aquatic Sciences 56, 118-127. Shepherd, S. A. and Partington, D. (1995). Studies on southern Australian abalone (genus Haliotis) XVI. Recruitment, habitat and stock relations. Marine and Freshwater Research 46, 669-680. 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, 843- 856. Tarbath, D. B. (2003). 'Blacklip abalone in south east Tasmania.' M.Sc. Thesis. (University of Tasmania: Hobart). Tarbath, D. B., Mundy, C. and Haddon, M. (2003). Tasmanian abalone fishery 2002. Fishery assessment report, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart. Tarbath, D. B. and Officer, R. A. (2003). Size-limits and yield for blacklip abalone in northern Tasmania. Technical report, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart. 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.

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 107 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

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 2004 the Abalone Stock Assessment Group included the following people:

Grant Pullen Principal Fisheries Management Officer, DPIWE 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 Greg Woodham Treasurer, Tasmanian Abalone Council Nigel Wallace Secretary, Tasmanian Abalone Council John Hayes Divers’ Representative, Tasmanian Abalone Council Paddy Maguire Tasmanian Abalone Council Roger King Tasmanian Abalone Council We also sought specific advice from a number of other people within the industry, including James and Charles Mason, Max Stephenson, Brett Green, Berkeley Dilworth, Murray Young, Neil Batey and Adam Morgan. We would like to thank all the above for the time and help that they provided to us.

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Appendix 1: Interpreting graphical information

Catch rates are expressed as geometric mean catch rates rather than arithmetic means because abalone catch rates are not usually normally distributed. 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 14 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 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 100 10 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Figure 14. 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.

Figure 15 is similar to Figure 14 (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 15:

• 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.

• Between 2000 and 2003, the catch rates are shown as two separate lines with black balls for blacklip and white balls for greenlip.

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10 Year Catch and Catch-rate 40 140 35 120 30 100 25 80 20 60 15 10 40 Cpue (kg/hr)

Catch (tonnes) 5 20 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year greenlip tonnes blacklip tonnes mixed species cpue greenlip cpue blacklip cpue

Figure 15. Example ten-year catch and catch rate – blacklip and greenlip.

Figure 16 shows catch and catch rates for the last four 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.

4-year catch and catch-rate 14 100 90 12 80 10 70 8 60 50 6 40 4 30 20 Cpue (kg/hr) Catch (tonnes) 2 10 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year blacklip tonnes blacklip cpue

Figure 16. Example catch and catch rate at sub-block level.

Also included are monthly catch rate and catch charts at sub-block level (Figure 17, Figure 18). 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

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00-02 average Monthly catch-rate (sub-block) 2003 120

100

80

60

40 Catch-rate (kg/hr) 20

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

Figure 17. Example of monthly catch rates (kg/hr) at sub-block level. Vertical bars indicate range through the averaged period.

Monthly catch (sub-block) 2003 5 00-02 average

4

3

2 Catch (tonnes)

1

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

Figure 18. Example of monthly catch (tonnes) at sub-block level. Vertical bars indicate range through the averaged period.

The catch charts (Figure 18) should be used in conjunction with the catch rate (Figure 17) 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 19). They indicate the size structure of abalone catches being landed by divers.

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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 (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 1057, 10 20 10 0

130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Figure 19. 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 20, 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.

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Sub-block 13E (size limit 136 mm)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 30 247, 18 192, 2 685, 7 100, 1 20 10 0 Jan

30 70, 4 288, 17 97, 1 397, 4 308, 3 20 10 Feb 0

30 58, 4 57, 3 975, 10 499, 5 20 10 Mar 0

30 668, 39 141, 6 220, 2 87, 1 20 10 Apr 0

30 190, 10 69, 3 537, 5 316, 3 769, 8 20 10 May 0

30 674, 45 717, 7 196, 2 1745, 17 20 10 0 Jun

age (%) age 30

t 77, 6 1341, 12 493, 5 1498, 15 20

cen 10 r 0 Jul Pe 30 565, 35 184, 14 97, 1 666, 7 202, 2 20 10 0 Aug

30 285, 17 103, 1 1199, 12 20 10 0 Sep

30 136, 6 421, 11 1057, 10 202, 2 20 10 0 Oct

30 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 92, 5 314, 3 198, 2 199, 2 20 10 0 Nov

30 247, 17 917, 9 405, 4 100, 1 20 10 0 Dec 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 200 200 200

Size-class (mm)

Figure 20. 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.

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Appendix 2: Annual Catches From The Western Zone 1975 - 2003.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within the statistical blocks and sub-blocks comprising the Western Zone in 2003. 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 2003 0 97 104 27 142 239 345 229 67 1251

Mean 1 168 59 34 165 132 285 207 64 1058

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Appendix 3: Annual Catches From The Eastern Zone 1975 - 2003.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within statistical blocks and sub-blocks comprising the Eastern Zone in 2003. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights. The catches for Blocks 13 and 31 include catch from outside the (now) Eastern Zone prior to 2000 (Block 13) and 2001 (Block 31), 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 32 836 1976 208 156 0 64 36 1 18 25 45 56 18 12 9 40 72 9 39 50 858 1977 245 232 2 190 13 1 23 35 37 53 11 10 9 55 90 22 122 54 1204 1978 322 218 6 120 24 1 32 65 60 88 22 13 11 93 87 25 137 105 1429 1979 374 251 8 148 25 2 51 52 43 30 10 23 7 80 52 12 107 60 1335 1980 272 255 7 145 30 1 33 30 42 46 158 34 7 108 91 27 148 105 1539 1981 254 299 18 127 48 4 45 69 35 77 137 19 15 68 154 22 146 52 1589 1982 337 218 15 147 24 3 36 62 63 49 97 21 9 89 100 32 171 48 1521 1983 255 300 10 189 28 3 43 63 55 92 99 31 14 100 105 66 298 90 1841 1984 318 297 18 166 35 5 47 70 73 61 109 10 11 106 112 53 149 76 1716 1985 256 262 4 89 83 11 69 80 43 44 120 20 17 86 71 5 91 171 1522 1986 221 262 22 82 93 4 65 67 70 56 88 13 20 50 58 14 126 164 1475 1987 225 229 7 47 80 1 43 44 32 34 66 12 8 77 45 11 68 54 1083 1988 219 258 6 76 57 4 62 44 43 34 79 10 6 65 52 16 96 90 1217 1989 156 172 2 56 43 2 61 42 22 16 34 7 41 31 11 41 27 772 1990 133 193 4 76 29 3 33 51 41 36 61 1 2 61 77 21 54 22 898 1991 127 207 2 60 37 3 53 50 47 31 67 2 9 64 66 12 30 21 888 1992 159 122 4 49 28 3 56 49 56 12 76 1 1 71 56 7 10 13 773 1993 271 121 4 107 47 1 67 79 49 24 75 1 1 87 39 8 15 15 1011 1994 300 148 10 118 65 2 122 85 62 17 57 0 3 104 24 8 11 21 1157 1995 313 256 2 106 35 4 108 78 41 21 43 0 1 81 19 6 11 26 1151 1996 392 195 0 80 18 3 74 55 44 29 69 3 6 90 39 11 28 20 1156 1997 470 137 0 64 25 2 79 49 47 32 106 1 13 190 32 32 23 33 1335 1998 483 109 1 116 23 2 85 64 63 44 160 2 25 182 77 31 10 15 1492 1999 474 66 1 106 34 6 97 61 47 53 139 0 9 94 60 24 10 39 1319 2000 381 98 2 71 29 4 62 60 69 44 104 1 8 101 16 21 10 90 1170 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 2003 291 116 2 60 17 1 88 54 35 21 51 0 3 50 8 19 3 27 848

Mean 287 191 6 100 36 3 58 56 48 42 77 9 9 83 59 20 70 57 1210

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Appendix 4: Annual Catches From The Northern Zone 1975 - 2003.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within statistical blocks comprising the Northern Zone in 2003. 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. 1989 catches include those from the Bass Strait stunted fishery, taken at a size limit of 110 mm.

Year 31 39 40 32 33 34 35 36 38 47 48 49 5 1 2 3 4 Total 1975 3 1 2 9 1 77211293932127 14 167 1976 5 0 0 6 0 111112334639151 8 205 1977 5 2 6 11 0 02208175017187 8 216 1978 8 2 1 5 2 654310116521356 25 227 1979 6 1 2 9 0 01202778524310 10 187 1980 3 1 2 6 1 12001019251333 3 209 1981 7 1 0 7 1 100233912019833 10 250 1982 5 1 0 5 1 025145712123927 13 265 1983 7 4 0 4 0 1549441922722232 51 431 1984 5 3 0 7 0 1214814531111134 55 562 1985 5 2 4 6 1 2004485031943026 12 522 1986 10 5 1 9 2 3 3 1 15 86 97 267 35 4 24 13 575 1987 6 1 0 7 0 2 1 1 18 58 68 197 44 61 24 53 542 1988 2 2 1 11 1 1 1 0 18 36 41 168 29 17 22 60 410 1989 1 28 0 4 0 0 0 0 14 16 24 88 14 7 10 5 211 1990 0 0 0 1 0 000614208211109 12 165 1991 1 0 0 2 1 10081210976713 27 185 1992 3 0 0 2 0 00021011764614 10 139 1993 0 0 0 3 1 010167661048 9 116 1994 0 0 0 3 0 001061149924 1 86 1995 0 0 1 1 0 000062621252 7 99 1996 0 0 0 0 0 00004063721 2 79 1997 1 0 0 0 0 000052569110 6 90 1998 0 1 0 2 0 00006361211 2 79 1999 4 1 0 2 0 001013445314 6 83 2000 5 2 1 5 0 00001226450010 10 117 2001 12 11 3 5 10 1 003017721172112 12 279 2002 30 4 3 1 11 1 0020124810310235 16 278 2003 7 8 1 0 5 0 002010767325162 10 279

Mean 16 4 2 1 5 0 1114232511018623 16 243

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Appendix 5: Annual Catches From The Greenlip Fishery 1975 - 2003.

Annual tonnages of greenlip abalone caught within the statistical blocks comprising the Greenlip fishery in 2003. 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 7280 3 0 1212 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 1544011080 0 0 0146 1980 4 3 5 7 15 3 29 134406050 3 0 0101 1981 6 4 2 12 17 17 34 1090312190 12 0 4152 1982 27 1 3 4 13 14 2979927020 14 0 2143 1983 23 2 0 4 21 8 3494814401190 9 0 5201 1984 50 8 4 9 27 15 5676052602110 7 1 5320 1985 53 5 4 9 20 15 424771236330 1 0 1222 1986 39 8 7 4 14 7 36 2 10 0 57 35 14 5 1 8 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 27461 70 3 10227 1990 23 7 0 4 9 3 25613212711112 49 3 13218 1991 20 6 0 4 7 2 3163013326122 29 3 16192 1992 16 10 0 5 4 2 24720414243 18 1 8124 1993 9 2 0 2 5 2 22830226321 17 0 9113 1994 12 2 0 6 8 1 225503483104 25 0 7161 1995 25 6 2 5 9 3 213395235814 10 0 13164 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 2312224381433 34 0 5225 1999 6 2 4 2 17 1 1512401811021 25 1 10141 2000 12 15 12 8 11 2 1432202412132 4 1 3140 2001 7 20 4 14 14 29310035938 8 1 2140 2002 17 12 2 4 16 282290275711 6 1 9139 2003 18 16 1 5 16 1 10213014101014 11 3 4140

Mean 18 84 6 15 72911551025587 20 1 8192

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Appendix 6: Annual Catches From The Bass Strait Zone 1975 - 2003.

Annual tonnages of blacklip abalone caught within statistical blocks comprising the Bass Strait Zone in 2003. These tonnages are derived from estimated weights, which do not correspond exactly with landed weights. The Bass Strait Zone only partially covers Block 38; the remainder is covered by the Northern Zone. Catch for years 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995 includes that taken for the Bass Strait stunted fisheries at size limits of either 110mm (1989, 1993, 1995) or 118mm (1991).

Year 37 38 41 42 43 44 45 46 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Total 1975 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1976 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1977 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1978 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1979 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1980 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1981 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1982 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1983 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1984 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1985 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1986 1 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1987 2 2 0 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1988 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1989 8 19 11 34 1 5 14 0 24 0 41 4 0 6 0 167 1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1991 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 5 28 1 0 17 15 96 1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1993 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 4 37 1 0 6 8 95 1994 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 52 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 46 2 44 0 0 0 5 149 1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2003 6 0 1 2 2 0 0 2 0 7 2 36 2 0 7 2 70

Mean 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 4 0 6 0 0 1 1 22

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Appendix 7: History of Changes to the Fishery

This history has been compiled from a number of sources, principal among which has been DPIWE’s Abalone Management Plans.

Year Change

1962 Minimum size limit (MSL) of 5 inches (127 mm) minimum shell diameter introduced.

1964 MSL increased to 6 inches (152 mm).

1965 MSL reduced to 5 inches.

Introduction of commercial abalone diving licenses.

All abalone to be landed live (no processing at sea).

Divers required to provide monthly catch statistics as part of their license conditions.

1966 Abalone processing factories required to record the number of persons from whom abalone were bought.

1967 Abalone divers required to carry a measuring device to measure the abalone before taking them.

Special penalty introduced for possession of undersized abalone at $1 per fish.

Abalone to be sold in live condition to registered processors only.

1969 License limitation introduced. Rapid expansion of the fishery led to this first attempt to control effort. Only divers fishing the previous year were licensed to fish in 1969. This figure (120 divers) was maintained in subsequent years.

1971 Only licensed divers allowed to dive from a boat engaged in abalone fishing.

1972 License transfer from a retiring diver to his nominee allowable on grounds of health problems.

Annual license fees calculated as 1.5% of the mean of the previous three years value of annual production.

An additional five licenses were issued to divers living in the Furneaux Group. These divers were restricted to fishing the Furneaux Group, but the other 120 divers were not prevented from fishing there.

Penalties for breaches of regulations in relation to abalone fishing increased.

Permit to transfer licenses between divers revoked.

1974 License transfer from a retiring diver to his nominee permitted.

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1979 Penalties for breaches of regulations in relation to abalone fishing increased, with special penalties rising to $2 per fish.

Identification cards for divers introduced.

1982 Penalties for breaches of regulations in relation to abalone fishing increased, with special penalties rising to $10 per fish.

Catch restricted by marketing crisis: processors limit divers to 24 tonnes pa.

1983 Penalties for breaches of regulations in relation to abalone fishing increased.

Easing of market difficulties sees lifting of processor applied catch restrictions.

1985 Individual transferable quota (ITQ) and a total allowable catch (TAC) were introduced. Each of the 120 general license divers were allocated 28 units of quota, the Furneaux Group divers 20 units: therefore there were 3460 units. For 1985, the quota unit was set at 1100 kg i.e. the TAC was 3806 tonnes. This amount was derived from an estimate of average catches, with a 10% bonus granted by the Minister to compensate for any financial difficulties caused by the new system.

License fees were increased to 2.5% of the value of the annual landed catch, for each quota unit held.

Quota unit transfers between Furneaux divers and non-Furneaux divers were prohibited.

The 120 Tasmanian mainland divers were prohibited from diving in the Furneaux group.

Divers were required to own at least 16 units, but could accumulate no more than 80.

The catch (kg) per quota unit was determined by the Liaison Committee based upon advice from the government researchers.

1986 Annual license fees set at 5% of value of annual landed catch.

The catch per ITQ was reduced to 1000 kg (9% reduction) i.e. TAC was 3460 tonnes.

1987 MSL increased to 132 mm from 127 mm.

The catch per ITQ was reduced to 950 kg (5% reduction) i.e. TAC was 3287 tonnes.

1988 The catch per ITQ was reduced to 855 kg (5% reduction) i.e. TAC was 2958.3 tonnes.

The minimum legal weight for abalone meats was set at 90 g.

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1989 The catch per ITQ was reduced to 600 kg (30% reduction) i.e. TAC was 2076 tonnes.

To compensate divers for the reduction in TAC, a special fishery for blacklip abalone in Bass Strait was held in April, with a MSL of 110 mm and a maximum size limit of 132 mm. Each diver was limited to 2.4 tonnes, with 198 tonnes landed. The fishery was free of fees, and while only licensed abalone divers could participate, was held to be distinct from the Tasmanian abalone fishery (hence the maximum size limit).

The minimum meat weight regulation of 90g was amended to apply only to blacklip abalone.

1990 MSL for blacklip abalone on south and west coasts between the Wild Wave River (north of Sandy Cape) and Whale Head increased to 140 mm.

MSL for greenlip in Furneaux Group waters increased to 140 mm.

Furneaux Group boundary removed. The Furneaux Group divers were issued with an extra 8 units each, which could only be fished by the divers themselves and were not transferable. This increased the number of units in the fishery to 3500, and the TAC to 2100 tonnes.

1991 A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in May, with a MSL of 118 mm. The TAC was 110 tonnes, with a fee of $1.40 per kg of quota.

The license system was restructured: the diving entitlement was uncoupled from the entitlement to hold quota units and the lower and upper limits on the amount of units held was abolished.

1992 Minimum meat weight for greenlip was set at 70 g.

1993 A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in May and June, with a MSL of 110 mm. The TAC was 100 tonnes, with a fee of $5.00 per kg of quota.

Minimum meat weight regulation amended to 90g for all abalone other than greenlip.

Penalties reviewed and significantly increased, with the option of prison terms for serious and repeat offenders. Special penalties increased to $50 per fish.

1994 Quota owners were given the choice of continuing with their annual abalone licenses or entering into a Deed of Agreement that applied for 10 years with the right of renewal for perpetuity. 90% of owners chose the Deed of Agreement.

The Deed of Agreement set a fee structure that included both management costs and return to the community, based upon an increasing (but non-linear) proportion of beach price. At $6/kg, no fees were payable, at $35/kg fees were 10% at and at $200/kg fees were 33% of beach price.

1995 A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in May and June, with a MSL of 110 mm. Only 12 commercial divers (i.e. non-abalone) participated. While the

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TAC was 100 tonnes, only 21 tonnes was taken. The fee was $10.00 per kg of quota.

Another Bass Strait fishery was held in November, with both abalone and commercial divers participating. The MSL was 100 mm, and the TAC was set at 140 tonnes, with a fee of $10/kg. Only 106 tonnes was taken before the fishery was closed. It was maintained by divers that a very high proportion of the fishable biomass had been taken, and that continuing the fishery could affect the sustainability of stocks.

1996 The Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 was introduced.

Trigger points were introduced by DPIF to initiate a management response if catch and catch rates changed by a pre-determined quantity with respect to those from two earlier reference periods.

1997 The TAC was increased to 2520 tonnes (720 kg per quota unit).

Differential in beach price between east coast and west coast abalone first appears – is initially $2.00.

1998 The first Abalone Fishery Management Plan was introduced. Among changes that it introduced were catch monitoring, which included: 1. Pre-fishing reporting by divers, 2. Post-fishing reporting of catch by divers and processors, 3. Processors required to maintain a daily balance of stock in, stock out and stock on hand, 4. Processors to report prior to movement of stock out and on receipt of stock, 5. Reports to be made by telephone, where information was immediately available to Compliance Audit Unit and Tasmania Police.

For several years, greenlip abalone had attracted premium beach prices, causing a diversion of effort to that species. To enhance protection, a number of management changes were made: 1. For management purposes, the greenlip fishery was subdivided into two regions: the Furneaux Group and the remainder (North West, North East and King Island) 2. MSL was raised to 140 mm state-wide (except the North West, which was left at 132 mm), 3. The annual catch for the Furneaux Group was capped at 42 t determined from the average of the previous ??? years. This cap was managed monthly, so that where more than one twelfth of the annual cap (3.5 t) was taken in any month, the Minister could close the fishery until the next month. 4. Within the Furneaux Group, several other rules were introduced to reduce effort: a. divers could only work two days per week. Originally, the days were fixed, but because this forced divers to work in often hazardous conditions, divers were allowed to nominate which two days they could work.

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b. A 200 kg/day bag limit was introduced, as was a 200 kg/day landing limit. This effectively meant that catch was not held on motherships overnight. c. These rules were repealed in 1999. 5. The greenlip catch from the remainder of the State was to be limited to 106 tonnes. 6. Because the Department was unable to monitor catch closely enough, the monthly Furneaux Group catch usually overran its limit, and the fishery there was closed in August when the regional cap was met. The greenlip cap in the rest of the State was also overrun. 7. Vessels over 10 m landing abalone at Smithton or Stanley had to make a prior report to the CAU reporting service so that Tasmania Police could inspect their catch.

Fixed trigger points were abandoned as an assessment strategy as rising catch and catch rates indiscriminately fired triggers. Assessments have since primarily used catch and catch rate trends to monitor stock levels.

1999 MSL for greenlip raised to 140 mm in North West, and 150 mm for the remainder. This applied to the commercial fishery only, the MSL for recreational fishers remaining at 140 mm.

The greenlip fishery was divided into east (Furneaux Group and North East) and west (King Island and North West) with quarterly caps of 17 tonnes and 20 tonnes respectively. Overrun of caps led to a closure of the greenlip fishery in October.

Within the Furneaux Group, Block 35 (Franklin Sound) was closed to fishing between 1 October and 31 March to protect spawning abalone.

2000 The blacklip fishery was divided into two East and West management zones with boundaries at Whale Head and Port Sorell. The greenlip fishery was managed separately. Eastern blacklip units were set at 340 kg (TAC 1190 t), Western units at 400 kg (1400 t) and greenlip units at 40 kg (140t), with a TAC for the whole fishery of 2730 tonnes.

Size limits for blacklip abalone remained unchanged. The zone boundaries meant that the Western Zone had a size limit of 140 mm from Whale Head to the Wild Wave River and 132 mm from there to Port Sorell.

Following egg-per-recruit studies by researchers, the MSL for King Island greenlip was raised to 155 mm, 140 mm for North West and 145 for both the North East and the Furneaux Group.

The Block 35 (Franklin Sound) greenlip catch was capped at 20 tonnes.

Catches were reported on a smaller spatial scale with the introduction of sub- blocks state-wide.

Owners of fishing license (abalone dive) were allowed to hold more than one

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license and allow others to dive those licenses as supervisors.

2001 The Northern Zone (between Arthur River in the west and Musselroe Point in the east) for blacklip abalone was established, with a MSL of 127 mm except between Woolnorth Point and the Arthur River, where 132 mm prevailed. Catch per unit was 80 kg, with a TAC of 280 t. Because the Northern Zone covered coast that was previously included in the two other blacklip zones, catch for those zones was proportionally reduced, with a further allowance for declining Eastern Zone stocks. The TAC for the West was set at 1260 t (360 kg/unit), and the East at 1120 t (320 kg/unit). The greenlip TAC remained at 140 tonnes, so production from the entire fishery was 2800 t or 800 kg/unit.

Associated with the development of the Northern Zone, four reserves were established to monitor changes in size at maturity and growth rates of abalone populations. The reserves were at the Doughboys (North West), Waterwitch reef (King Island), the Inner Sister (Furneaux Group) and Swan Island (North East).

MSL’s for recreational divers were changed to 132 mm for blacklip state-wide, and 145 mm for greenlip in all areas except the North west, which remained at 140 mm.

The regional catch for the greenlip fishery was limited in three of the main regions. The North West catch was capped at 40 t, the North East at 30 t, while the Furneaux Group catch remained fixed at 42 t. Catch from King Island and the Bass Strait islands (Kent, Curtis, Hogan Groups) was not capped.

2002 MSL for Eastern Zone was increased to 136 mm.

MSL for greenlip on King Island was reduced to 150 mm.

MSL for greenlip in the North West was increased to 145 mm.

The Eastern Zone TAC was reduced to 857.5 t (245 kg/unit).

The Western Zone and greenlip TAC’s remained the same. Production for the whole fishery was set at 2537.5 t (725 kg/unit).

Catch from the Actaeons (sub-blocks 13C, D and E) was capped at 350 t, managed firstly as a half-yearly cap, then quarterly. The fishery there was closed in September and then mid-October when those caps were reached.

2003 A Bass Strait blacklip zone (TAC 70 tonnes (20 kg/unit), MSL of 114 mm) was superimposed over the Northern Zone in central Bass Strait and part of the Furneaux Group. Its purpose was to enable the catching of abalone smaller than allowed by the Northern Zone size limit, in areas where no catch had been taken under the Northern Zone because the size limit was too high. The Bass Strait Boundaries were set at Cowrie Point in the west and Anderson Bay in the east. The Flinders Island boundaries were on an unnamed point north of Settlement Point on the western side of the island (40°00’36.32”) and Foochow Inlet on the east. While the TAC for the Northern Zone was not decreased,

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(remaining at 280 t), the catch from Block 5 was capped at 100 t.

Fishery production was set at 2607.5 t (745 kg/unit) state-wide.

MSL for Western Zone between the Wild Wave River and Arthur River was increased to 136 mm from 132 mm.

Abalone taken from Western Zone subject to upper size limit of 160 mm by canners and live market buyers, although this size limit was not universally applied.

2004 Eastern Zone TAC was reduced to 770 t (220 kg/unit).

Greenlip TAC was reduced to 129.5 t (37 kg/unit). This affected the North West only, where the annual cap was reduced by 10 t to 30 t.

Production for the fishery was set at 2509.5 t (717 kg/unit)

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Appendix 8: History of Annual Catch, Effort and Catch Rate. Catch is shown in tonnes, by species (blacklip - •, greenlip -°). CPUE is the annual geometric mean of catch rates, for both species combined. The information from this appendix was not used in the preparation of the 2003 assessment.

State-wide King Island (Blocks 1-4) 4500 350 4000 300 3500 3000 250 2500 200 2000 150 1500 100 1000 Catch (tonnes) 500 50 0 0 70 5 60 4 50 40 3 30 2

ort ('000 hours) ('000 ort 20 f f 1

E 10 0 0 140 140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

West Coast North (Blocks 5 and 6) West and South-West (Blocks 7-12)

700 1600 600 1400 500 1200

onnes) 1000 t 400 800 300 ch ( ch

t 600 200 400 Ca 100 200 0 0 8 20 7 16 6 5 12 4 8 ort ('000 hours)

f 3 f 4 E 2 1 0 200 200 160 160 120 120 80 80 40 40

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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South East (Blocks 13-21) East Coast (Blocks 22-29) 1000 600 800 500 400 600 300 400 200 200

Catch (tonnes) 100 0 0 20 10

16 8 12 6 8 4 4 Effort ('000 hours) 0 2 140 100 120 80 100 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

North East (Blocks 30, 31, 39 & 40) Furneaux Group (Blocks 32-38)

400 200

300 160 onnes) t 120 200

ch ( ch 80 t 100

Ca 40 0 0 7 4 6 3.5 5 3 4 2.5 3 2 2 1.5

Effort ('000 hours) 1 1 0 0.5 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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North West (Blocks 47-49) 350 300 250

onnes) 200 t 150 ch ( ch t 100

Ca 50 0 5 4 3 2 1 Effort ('000 hours) ('000 Effort 0 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year

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Block 1 (King Island) Block 2 (King Island) 60 140 50 120 40 100 80 30 60 20 40

Catch (tonnes) 10 20 0 0 1 3 0.8 2.5 2 0.6 1.5 0.4 1 0.2 0.5 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 3 (King Island) Block 4 (King Island)

100 80 70 80 60

onnes) 50 t 60 40

ch ( ch 40 t 30 20 Ca 20 10 0 0 1 2 0.8 1.6 0.6 1.2 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.4 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 140 100 120 80 100 80 60 60 40 40 20 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 5 (West Coast North) Block 6 (West Coast North) 350 350 300 300 250 250 200 200 150 150 100 100

Catch (tonnes) 50 50 0 0 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2 1.5 2 1 1.5 1

Effort ('000 hours) 0.5 0 0.5 140 160 120 140 100 120 80 100 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 7 (West & South-west) Block 8 (West & South-west)

100 90 80 80 70 60 onnes) t 60 50 40

ch ( ch 40 t 30

Ca 20 20 10 0 0 1.2 1 1 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2

Effort ('000 hours) 0.2 0 0 200 200 160 160 120 120 80 80 40 40

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 9 (West & South-west) Block 10 (West & South-west) 450 350 400 300 350 300 250 250 200 200 150 150 100 100 Catch (tonnes) 50 50 0 0 4 3 3.5 2.5 3 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 0.5

Effort ('000 hours) 0.5 0 0 200 200 180 160 160 140 120 120 100 80 80 60 40 40

CPUE (kg/hr) 20 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 11 (West & South-west) Block 12 (West & South-west)

700 400 600 350 500 300 onnes) 250 t 400 200 300 ch ( ch t 150 200 100 Ca 100 50 0 0 8 4 7 3.5 6 3 5 2.5 4 2 3 1.5 2 1

Effort ('000 hours) 1 0.5 0 0 200 160

160 120 120 80 80 40 40

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 13 (South East) Block 14 (SouthEast) 600 350 500 300 400 250 200 300 150 200 100

Catch (tonnes) 100 50 0 0 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2

Effort ('000 hours) 1 1 0 0 100 80

80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 15 (South East) Block 16 (South East)

30 200 25 150 20 onnes) t 15 100 ch ( ch t 10 50 Ca 5 0 0 0.5 4 3.5 0.4 3 0.3 2.5 2 0.2 1.5 0.1 1 Effort ('000 hours) 0.5 0 0 100 80 70 80 60 60 50 40 40 30 20 20 10 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 17 (South East) Block 18 (South East) 100 10 80 8 60 6 40 4 20 2 Catch (tonnes) 0 0 3 0.06 2.5 2 0.04 1.5 1 0.02 0.5 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 80 100

60 80 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 19 (South East) Block 20 (South East)

12 140 10 120 8 100 onnes) t 80 6 60 ch ( ch t 4 40 Ca 2 20 0 0 0.3 2 0.25 1.6 0.2 1.2 0.15 0.8 0.1 0.4

Effort ('000 hours) 0.05 0 0 160 80 70 120 60 50 80 40 30 40 20 10 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 21 (South East) Block 22 (East Coast) 80 80 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20

Catch (tonnes) 10 10 0 0 1.5 2 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.2 0.6 0.8 0.3 0.4 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 23 (East Coast) Block 24 (East Coast)

100 180 90 160 80 140 70 120 onnes) t 60 100 50 80

ch ( ch 40 t 30 60

Ca 20 40 10 20 0 0 3 2.8 2.5 2.4 2 2 1.6 1.5 1.2 1 0.8

Effort ('000 hours) 0.5 0.4 0 0 80 100 70 60 80 50 60 40 30 40 20 20 10 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 25 (South East) Block 26 (East Coast) 40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10 Catch (tonnes) 0 0 1 1 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 27 (East Coast) Block 28 (East Coast)

200 180 160 150 120 onnes) t 120 90

ch ( ch 80 t 60

Ca 40 30 0 0 3 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 0.5

Effort ('000 hours) 0.5 0 0 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 29 (East Coast) Block 30 (North East) 70 300 60 250 50 200 40 150 30 20 100

Catch (tonnes) 10 50 0 0 1.5 6 1.2 5 4 0.9 3 0.6 2 0.3 1 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 100 80

80 60 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 31 (North East) Block 32 (Furneaux Group)

180 20 150 16 120 onnes)

t 12 90

ch ( ch 8 t 60

Ca 30 4 0 0 5 0.5 4 0.4 3 0.3 2 0.2 1 0.1 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 33 (Furneaux Group)Block 34 (Furneaux Group) 30 30 25 25 20 20 15 15 10 10

Catch (tonnes) 5 5 0 0 1 1 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 80 100

60 80 60 40 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 35 (Furneaux Group) Block 36 (Furneaux Group)

60 80 50 70 60 40 onnes) 50 t 30 40 ch ( ch t 20 30 20 Ca 10 10 0 0 1.5 1 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 80 100

60 80 60 40 40 20 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

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Block 47 (North West) Block 48 (North West) 80 100

60 80 60 40 40 20 20 Catch (tonnes) 0 0 1.5 2 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.2 0.6 0.8 0.3 0.4 Effort ('000 hours) 0 0 80 120 100 60 80 40 60 40 20 20 CPUE (kg/hr) 0 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 year year

Block 49 (North West)

100 80 onnes)

t 60

ch ( ch 40 t

Ca 20 0 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.3 Effort ('000 hours) 0 120 100 80 60 40 20

CPUE (kg/hr) 0 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03

year

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Appendix 9. Maps of blocks and sub-block boundaries.

These blocks and sub-blocks are used to report the position from which catch has been taken, for the Tasmanian abalone fishery. Catch has been reported by block since 1974, and by sub-block since 2000.

It is not intended that these maps be used for any purpose other than identifying the position of sub-blocks mentioned in this report.

Map1: King Island

2A

1A Cape Wickham 0 10 20 Yellow Rock Beach Nth Lavinia Point Kilometers 1B Whistler Point 2B Sea Elephant Lagoon 1C 2C King Island Airport Fraser Beach

4A 3A Cumberland Light Ettrick River 3B 4B Grassy Harbour Cataraqui Point Middle Point 3C 4C

49B 49A Cuvier Pt Light Yll B h

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Map 2: North West Tasmania

49B 49A

Cuvier Pt Light

Yellow Beach 0 10 20 49C Kilometers Renard Point 48B 47B 47A 48C 46 Woolnorth Point Little Creek Guyton Point 5A 45 Harcus Island 48A Highfield Point 44 Studland Bay Beach 5B Duck River Cowrie Point

Three Mile Sand Beach Chambers Bay 5C

Arthur River Heybridge 5D Arthur Beach South Northdown Beach

6A

Richardson Point 6B High Rock 6C Wild Wave River

Map 3: Central West Coast (north)

Richardson Point 6B High Rock 6C Wild Wave River

6D

Italian River

7A

Pieman River 7B Newdegate Creek 7C Granville Harbour 8A Tasman River 8B

Henty River

0 10 20 Kilometers 8C

Ocean Beach 9A Cape Sorell

9B

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Map 4: Central West Coast (south)

8C

Ocean Beach 9A Cape Sorell

9B

Gorge Point

9C

Meerim Beach 10A Endeavour Bay 10B

High Rocky Point 10C Mainwaring River

0 10 20 10D Kilometers Low Rocky Point 11A

Map 5: South West Tasmania

10B High Rocky Point 10C Mainwaring River

10D

Low Rocky Point 11A

Elliott Point 11B Svenor Gulches

11C Point St Vincent 11E 11D Hilliard Head Faults Bay

0 10 20 Prion Beach Kilometers Cox Bluff Su South West Cape Fis 12A South Cape 13A Whal 12B 12D 12C 13B

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 141 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Map 6: South East Tasmania

Seven Mile Beach 23B Denison Canal Bridge 19B 19A Middle Lagoon Bay Beach 23A Cremorne Lobster Pt 17B Deep Glen Bay 22C 18 Piersons Pt South Arm Neck 17A Eaglehawk Neck Outer North Head Dennes Pt 22B 16D 20A Middle Whitebeach 21B The Lanterns Trumpeter Bay Standup Pt Budget Head 22A 15 16C Salters Pt 20B Cape Raoul Cape Pillar Middle Neck Beach 20C 21A 21C Blubber Head Mays Creek 16B 14B 14C Burnett Pt Hopwood Pt Light North Mangana Bluff 14A 14D Big Lagoon Beach West Cloudy Head Boreel Head 13D Sullivan Pt 13E 0 10 20 Kilometers Fishers Pt 14E 16A South Cape Whale Head 13C 13B

Map 7:Lower East Coast

Peggys Point 28A

Isaacs Point 27E Friendly Beaches Sth Point Bagot 27D 26B Wineglass Bay Beach

26A South Hazard Beach 26C 27C Passage Rock Seaford Point 26D Passage Pt SandstoneCape Bluff Sonnerat 27A 25 27B

Cape Bougainville

24C Marine Reserve Boundary 24D Rheban Boat Ramp Return Point 0 10 20 Kilometers 24B Middle Riedle Bay 24E 24A Cape Peron Eagles Beach

Seven Mile Beach 23B son Canal Bridge A Middle Lagoon Bay Beach 19B 23A

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 142 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Map 8: Upper East Coast

31A

Eddystone Point 30C

Gardens Lagoon Beach 30B 0 10 20 Taylors Beach south Kilometers 30A

St Helens Point

29D

Scamander River 29C

Ironhouse Point

29B

Middle Templestowe Beach 29A Long Point (Seymour) 28C Douglas River 28B Peggys Point 28A

Map 9: North East Tasmania

40C 40A 42 41 40B 39A 31B 43 Petal PtLittle Musselroe Bay 44 Waterhouse Pt 20 Cape Naturaliste 0 10 Croppies Pt 39B Kilometers Tomahawk Beach 31A

Waterhouse Beach Sth Fannys Bay Eddystone Point Three Mile Bluff 3

Gardens Lagoon Beach Northdown Beach 3 Taylors Beach south

St Helens Point 3

29 Scamander R

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 143 Abalone Fishery Assessment: 2003

Map 10: Furneaux Group

57Wright Rock

37D 37C Foochow Beach North 38C Palana Beach West 38B Bass Pyramid 50 Low Point 37B West End Beach Foochow Inlet 38A 37A Red Bluff Settlement Point Planter Beach Long Point Beach Nth

34D 36B 34C Holts Point Pot Boil Point Tommy Rews Point 35C 35E 0 10 20 South Head 35D 34B 35B Puncheon Point Kilometers Kenneth Point 35A Lee River 36A 34A Prickly Bottom Beach Thirsty Lagoon

River Point Battery Bay Creek33C 32C Christmas Beach Lascars Point 32B Seal Point Passage Point 32A Kangaroo Bay 33B 33A

Map 11: Bass Strait Islands

Hogan Group Rodondo Island

East Moncoeur Island 53 55 54

Kent Group 56 52 Curtis Group 51 Judgment Rocks Wright Rock

57

37D Foochow Beach No 0 10 20 37C Kilometers 38C Bass Pyramid Palana Beach West Low Point 50 37B West End Beach Foochow Inl 37A Red Bluff Settlement Point P Long Point Beach Nth

34D

34C

TAFI Fishery Assessment Report Page 144