Fishery Management

The Tasmanian abalone industry is one of the most valuable fisheries in Tasmania. The Tasmanian abalone fishery is also the largest abalone producer in the world, contributing ~25% of the annual global harvest. The fishery is managed by NRE under the provisions of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and the Fisheries (Abalone) Rules 2017. An assessment of the Tasmanian abalone fisheries is required annually under the Tasmanian Abalone Deed of Agreement. IMAS researchers conduct an annual assessment to support the management of the fishery.

Commercial Catch

A draft Abalone Management Plan and Policy documents were prepared in the late 1990’s and revised in 2000. A new Tasmanian Harvest Strategy was completed in 2019 and approved by the Minister for Natural Resources and Environment in early 2020. An operational document for the fishery is published prior to the commencement of each fishing year, detailing size limits, quota for each zone, spatial management arrangements and any other operational rules that govern the commercial harvest of abalone in Tasmania.

Non-Commercial Catch

A survey of recreational abalone fishing is conducted by IMAS biannually. The most recent survey of recreational abalone fishing catch was undertaken for the 2019-20 season and estimated that 12.6 t of blacklip and greenlip abalone, or 1.0 % of the total Tasmanian abalone catch, was taken by recreational fishers. The number of recreational abalone diving licenses issued by NR&E for the year ended 2021 was 11,179. For more information see our Recreational Fishery page.

Indigenous Catch

Abalone are caught in Tasmanian waters as part of cultural fishing activities by Indigenous people. This catch is not quantified but is believed to be negligible. Catch is also taken under permits for special events and research purposes. Illegal fishing is known to occur but no estimates of this catch are available.

Management Changes

Detailed Management Changes

Date	Detailed Management Changes
1962	Legal minimum length (LML) of 5 inches (127 mm) minimum shell diameter introduced.
1964	LML increased to 6 inches (152 mm).
1965	LML reduced to 5 inches. Introduction of commercial abalone diving licenses. All abalone to be landed live (no processing at sea). Skippers of boats engaged in abalone fishing required to lodge monthly fish returns 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.
1968	Abalone catch returns were introduced. These recorded daily catches and effort by reporting block and were lodged monthly by the skipper (not necessarily a diver) of an abalone fishing vessel. More than one diver’s catch could be reported on a return. These returns replaced the general fish return on which earlier catches were reported.
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. Unusually prolonged calm sea conditions and warm water were associated with a widespread die-off of abalone and rock lobster between the Arthur River and Granville Harbour. Substantial quantities of both species were reported killed.
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. Computerised catch records started from July 1974.
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 (TACC) 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 TACC 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. Catch dockets recording the catch weight landed by individual divers were introduced.
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. TACC was 3460 tonnes.
1987	LML increased to 132 mm from 127 mm. The catch per ITQ was reduced to 950 kg (5% reduction) i.e. TACC was 3287 tonnes.
1988	The catch per ITQ was reduced to 855 kg (5% reduction) i.e. TACC was 2958.3 tonnes. The minimum legal weight for abalone meats was set at 90 g.
1989	The catch per ITQ was reduced to 600 kg (30% reduction) i.e. TACC was 2076 tonnes. A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in April, with a LML of 110 mm and a maximum size limit of 132 mm. Each diver was limited to 2.4 tonnes, with 198 tonnes caught. 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	LML for blacklip abalone on south and west coasts between the Wild Wave River (north of Sandy Cape) and Whale Head increased to 140 mm. LML 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 TACC to 2100 tonnes.
1991	A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in May, with a LML of 118 mm. The TACC 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. Development of DPIF’s compliance catch database (SEALSPROD) that enabled auditing of catch from vessel to factory.
1993	A fishery for abalone in Bass Strait was held in May and June, with a LML of 110 mm. The TACC 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 LML of 110 mm. Only 12 commercial divers (i.e. non-abalone) participated. While the TACC 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 LML was 100 mm, and the TACC 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 TACC was increased to 2520 tonnes (720 kg per quota unit). Difference in beach price between east coast and west coast blacklip 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: • For management purposes, the greenlip fishery was subdivided into two regions: the Furneaux Group and the remainder (North West, North East and King Island) • LML was raised to 140 mm state-wide (except the North West, which was left at 132 mm), • The annual catch for the Furneaux Group was capped at 42 t based on estimates of sustainable yield. 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. Within the Furneaux Group, several other rules were introduced to reduce effort: • 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. • 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. • These rules were repealed in 1999. • The greenlip catch from the remainder of the State was to be limited to 106 tonnes. • 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. 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 used catch and catch rate trends to monitor stock levels. A new compliance catch database (LMM/QMS) introduced by DPIWE.
1999	LML for greenlip raised to 140 mm in North West, and 150 mm for the remainder. This applied to the commercial fishery only, the LML 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 Wes t) 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 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 (TACC 1190 t), Western units at 400 kg (1400 t) and greenlip units at 40 kg (140 t), with a TACC 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, LML 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 – Furneaux Group) greenlip catch was capped at 20 tonnes. Catch 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 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 LML of 127 mm except between Woolnorth Point and the Arthur River, where 132 mm prevailed. Catch per unit was 80 kg, with a TACC 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 TACC for the West was set at 1260 t (360kg/unit), and the East at 1120 t (320 kg/unit). The greenlip TACC remained at 140 tonnes, so production from the entire fishery was 2800 t, or 800 kg/unit. In association with establishment of Northern Zone, research monitoring areas were set aside at the Inner Sister, Swan Island, Waterwitch Reef, and the Doughboys. LML’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	Production for the whole fishery was set at 2537.5 t (725 kg/unit). LML for Eastern Zone was increased to 136 mm. LMLfor greenlip on King Island was reduced to 150 mm. LMLfor greenlip in the North West was increased to 145 mm. Eastern Zone TACC reduced to 857.5 t (245 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained 140 t (40 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	Fishery production was set at 2607.5 t (745 kg/unit) state-wide. Eastern Zone TACC remained 857.5 t (245 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC set at 70 t (20 kg/unit). A Bass Strait blacklip zone (TACC 70 tonnes (20kg/unit), LML of 114 mm) was created within 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. 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. Blacklip catch from Block 5 (Northern Zone) was capped at 100 t. LML for Western Zone between the Wild Wave River andArthur 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. Note that this was not rigidly enforced and market sampling showed most samples contained many abalone over this size.
2004	Fishery production was set at 2509.5 t (717 kg/unit) state-wide. Eastern Zone TACC reduced to 770 t (220 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC reduced to 129.5 t (37 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). The greenlip TACC reduction affected the North West only, where the annual cap was reduced by 10 t to 30 t. October-March closure for Franklin Sound greenlip fishery abolished. Block 35 cap reduced from 20 t to 15 t.
2005	Fishery production was set at 2502.5 t (715 kg/unit) state-wide. Eastern Zone TACC remained 770 t (220 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC reduced to 122.5 t (35 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). The greenlip TACC reduction affected the North East only, where the annual cap was reduced by 7 t to 23 t. Team diving (sharing catch from one quota unit by two divers) was introduced to legitimise the practise of divers catching abalone for others when they held no quota to which their catch could be assigned. Team dive dockets were submitted by teams, but not computerised. High grading (discarding large abalone in the catch from the deck) prohibited. Caufing of abalone (holding abalone in cages at sea) was prohibited. Introduction of cancellation reports where a prior reported trip is cancelled. Introduction of single (blacklip) zone fishing provisions. Overcatch provisions introduced to cover unintentional underestimation of catch weight. In Victoria in December, ganglioneuritis detected on two land-based (Portland and Port Fairy) and two offshore (Westernport) aquaculture sites.
2006	Fishery production was set at 2502.5 t (715 kg/unit) state-wide. Eastern Zone TACC remained 770 t (220 kg/unit) Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit) Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit) Greenlip TACC remained 122.5 t (35 kg/unit) Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit) On 1 January 2006, interim reduction in LML for Perkins Bay greenlip area (Blocks 47, 48A), from 145 mm to 140 mm. On 20 September 2006, LML for Bass Strait Zone in Blocks 41-46 (North Coast) reduced from 114 mm to 110 mm. On 1 November 2006, LML for Eastern Zone was increased to 138 mm from 136 mm. LML for greenlip abalone in Perkins Bay was reduced to 132 mm from 140 mm. As a temporary measure to facilitate research, Block 30 was entirely closed to commercial abalone fishing and partially closed (except sub-block 30A) to recreational abalone fishing. The bag limit for recreational fishers in sub-block 30A reduced to 5 abalone per day. May 2006: Victorian ganglioneuritis (AVG) outbreaks reported from wild stocks adjacent to land-based aquaculture site at Port Fairey. As a precautionary measure, the Tasmanian wild fishery in Bass Strait closest to the Victorian coast was closed to abalone fishing, from 16 August 2006, initially for three months but then extended to 28 February 2007. The closure was for waters within latitudes 39º12’ S and 39 º33’ S, and longitudes 146 ºto 147 º35’ (Blocks 51 to 56, and part of Block 57, including Wright Rock and Endeavour Reef). The taking of abalone in Tasmanian waters from vessels used in the Victorian fishery was prohibited, and the transfer by sea of abalone from King Island to the Tasmanian mainland was prohibited.
2007	Fishery production was set at 2502.5 t (715 kg/unit) state-wide. Eastern Zone TACC remained 770 t (220 kg/unit) Western Zone TACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit) Northern Zone TACC remained 280 t (80 kg/unit) Greenlip TACC remained 122.5 t (35 kg/unit) Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit) N.B. it was agreed that the Bass Strait component (70 t) would not be caught due to concerns about disease outbreaks (AVG) in abalone stocks in adjacent Victorian waters. In October 2007, it was agreed that the cap for the southern part of the Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, 13D and 13E) would be reduced from 350 t to 266 t, and that a cap of 245 t be implemented for the South Coast (Sub-blocks 12B, 12C, 12D, 13A and 13B).
2008	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,593.5 t, or 741 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC increased to 808.5 t (231 kg/unit) Western ZoneTACC remained 1260 t (360 kg/unit) Northern Zone TACC increased to 332.5 t (95 kg/unit) Greenlip TACC remained 122.5 t (35 kg/unit) Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit) As part of a controlled trial in the North West, size limits in Block 5 and part of Block 6 were reduced for divers meeting defined operating requirements on the basis that there were large stocks of abalone too small to catch at the larger size limit, and that removing these smaller abalone would promote growth among the remaining fish. The LML in the Northern Zone part of Block 5 (5A, 5B and 5C) was reduced from 132 mm to 127 mm, and in sub-blocks 5D, 6A, 6B and 6C, from 136 mm to 132 mm. To promote fishing in the Northern Zone part of Block 5, the cap was increased from 100 t to 152.5 t and the Northern Zone TACC increased to 332.5 t. The remainder of the Northern Zone was capped at 180 t. In Bass Strait, south of 39°33’, the Bass Strait Zone was reopened to fishing on 1 January 2008. North of this line, all islands in the Bass Strait Zone remained closed to fishing as part of measures to reduce the spread of AVG from Victoria. The closed area included the Kent, Hogan and Curtis Groups. It was reopened to fishing on 6 July 2008. Fears of an outbreak of AVG resulted in the closure of the Lower Channel (sub-blocks 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D) to abalone fishing between 16 September 2008 and 12 March 2009. The area was reopened after extensive sampling and testing failed to find diseased abalone. Actaeons (Blocks 13C, 13D, 13E) closed to fishing for the remainder of the year from 21 October because the 266 t catch limit had been reached (340 t). South Coast closed to fishing on 29 October because the 245 t catch limit had been reached (332 t).
2009	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,604 t, or 744 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC increased to 850.5 t (243 kg/unit) Western Zone TACC reduced to 924 t (264 kg/unit) Central Western Zone TACC established at 304.5 t (87 kg/unit) Northern Zone TACC remained 332.5 t (95 kg/unit) Greenlip TACC remained 122.5 t (35 kg/unit) Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit) A new zone was created on the west coast to transfer catch from the South West further north. The Central Western Zone covers Blocks 6, 7 and 8. The Western Zone was correspondingly reduced to Blocks 9, 10, 11, 12, 13A and 13B. Blocks 7 and 8 were closed to fishing on 13 July because the 108 t cap had been reached (155 t). The North West greenlip region (cap 30 t) was closed to fishing on 1 August after the 20 t Perkins Bay cap was reached (20.1 t). The region’s catch was 33.9 t. The North East greenlip region was closed to fishing on 19 October because the 23 t cap had been reached (35 t). The Actaeons were closed to fishing on 1 November, because the 340 t cap had been reached (341 t). The South Coast (cap 300 t) was closed to fishing on 1 November with the catch at 321 t. The Block 5 (cap 152 t) was closed to fishing on 5 December with the catch at 172 t. Experimental fishing project with reduced size limits continued in Blocks 5 and 6, where the LML was reduced under permit from 132 mm to 127 mm (Block 5) and 136 mm to 132 mm (Block 6), provided GPS data loggers were used.
2010	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,660 t, or 760 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC increased to 896 t (256 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 924 t (264 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC remained 304.5 t (87 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained 332.5 t (95 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC increased to 133 t (38 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). Experimental fishing project with reduced size limits continued in Blocks 5 and 6, where the LML was reduced under permit from 132 mm to 127 mm (Block 5) and 136 mm to 132 mm (Block 6), provided GPS data loggers were used. In September 2010, the size limit for greenlip caught betweenAndersons Bay (Block 41) and Cowrie Point (Block 46) was reduced from 145 mm to 132 mm, in line with Blocks 47 and 48A (Perkins Bay/Black Reef). The Furneaux Group was brought into the Bass Strait Zone 114 mm size limit area. The size limit for Eastern Zone blacklip caught in Block 31Anorth of Cod Bay and Georges Rocks (latitude 40º54’53”S) was reduced from 138 mm to 132 mm while fishing under permit. This was a temporary measure between July and October to encourage fishing there. Block 31A was closed to fishing on 4 October after 50 t of abalone had been caught, but was subsequently reopened in December 2010 (at 138 mm) to ease pressure across the remainder of the fishery. Furneaux Group blacklip closed 9 August, capped at 35 t (49 t caught). The Actaeons closed 13 September capped at 340 t cap (342 t). Block 22 closed 13 October when the 60 t cap was almost reached (55 t). It was reopened in December to ease pressure on the reminder of the fishery. Blocks 7, 8 and 6D closed 20 October capped at 150 t (171 t). North East greenlip closed 1 November, capped at 23 t (25 t). North West greenlip closed 13 November, capped at 18 t (23t). Perkins Bay greenlip closed 13 November, capped at 20 t (20t). All the Northern Zone except Block 5 closed 22 November capped at 180 t (191 t caught). South Coast closed 13 December capped at 300 t (311 t). King Island greenlip closed on 13 December, cap 30 t (32 t).
2011	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,565.5 t, or 733 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 721 t (206 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 924 t (264 kg/unit). Central Western ZoneTACC remained 304.5 t (87 kg/unit). Northern ZoneTACC increased to 402.5 t (115 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC increased to 143.5 t (41 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). Experimental fishing project with reduced size limits continued in Blocks 5 and 6, where the LMLwas reduced under permit from 132 mm to 127 mm (Block 5) and 136 mm to 132 mm (Block 6), provided GPS data loggers were used. The remainder of the 40 units issued to the five Furneaux Group divers in 1990 were transferred back to the Government. The Eastern Zone was closed to fishing in all parts except Block 31 between 1 January and 31 March. Actaeons (Sub-blocks 13C, 13D and 13E) closed 29 October capped at 341 t (359 t caught). Lower Channel (sub-blocks 14A, 14B) closed 5 December cap 10 t (12.5 t caught). Block 22 closed 12 September, reopened 18 December cap 40 t (54 t caught). Blocks 23, 24 closed 12 November cap 50 t (54 t caught). Freycinet/Bicheno (Blocks 25-28, 29A) closed 5 December cap 40 t (47.5 t caught). Block 5 Northern Zone closed 29August cap 142.5 t (155 t caught). Remainder NW Northern Zone (Blocks 47, 48, 49) closed 29 October cap 100 t (112 t caught). North East Northern Zone (Block 39, 40, 31B) closed 5 December cap 30 t (29 t caught). Granville Harbour/Sandy Cape (Blocks 7, 8, 6D) closed 23 May cap 160 t (159.5 t caught). Furneaux Group Bass Strait Zone closed 20 June cap 35 t (44 t caught). North West greenlip closed 29 October cap 18 t (21 t caught). Perkins Bay greenlip closed 1 October cap 20 t (21 t caught). North East greenlip closed 5 December cap 23 t (23.5 t caught). Furneaux Group greenlip closed 28 November cap 42 t (44.5 t caught). Telephone reporting requirements were suspended on 16 November when the company operating the call centre unexpectedly ceased trading. Following the discovery of AVG-affected greenlip in NSW in November 2011, all imports of live abalone into that state from Tasmania and Victoria have been subject to restrictions. This measure has since greatly reduced the size of the domestic live greenlip market causing a collapse in high-grade greenlip beach prices. LML in the Northern blacklip fishery in Blocks 47, 48 and 49 reduced from 127 mm to 125 mm, provided GPS loggers used.
2012	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,366 t, or 676 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 549.5 t (157 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained 924 t (264 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC remained 304.5 t (87 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 378 t (108 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC decreased to 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). No caps were implemented in the Eastern Zone. The Eastern Zone was closed to fishing in all parts except Block 31 between 1 January and 31 March. East Furneaux Bass Strait Zone (sub-blocks 33B, 33C, Blocks 36, 38) closed 13 August, cap 35 t (36.4 t caught). Eastern Zone sub-block 30A closed 13 August, cap 4 t (4.5 t caught). North East greenlip closed 27 August cap 23 t (32.7 t caught). North East Northern Zone closed 27 August cap 30 t (35 t caught). Granville Harbour/Sandy Cape (Blocks 7, 8, 6D) closed 15 October cap 154.5 t (174 t caught). Blocks 47, 48, 49 Northern Zone (Hunter &Three Hummock Islands) closed 15 October, cap 130 t (156 t caught). Sub-block 48A, Block 47 (Black Reef greenlip) closed 12 November cap 20 t (26 t caught). Remainder North West greenlip closed 19 November, cap 18 t (18.5 t caught). Telephone reporting requirements reinstated with a new operator on 27 February. GPS and depth loggers made mandatory throughout the fishery from 1 January 2012. LML at Block 49 (Hunter Island & Three Hummock Island but not Albatross Island) was reduced from 125 mm to 120 mm. The LML at Albatross Is. was increased to 127 mm from 125 mm.
2013	The total catch state-wide was set at 2,149 t, or 614 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 528.5 t (151 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC increased to 1001 t (286 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC decreased to 101.5 t (29 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 308 t (88 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). The Central Western Zone/Western Zone boundary was moved north to the Wild Wave River between 6D and 6C, meaning that Blocks 7 and 8, and subblock 6D reverted to the Western Zone, and that the Central Western Zone comprised 5D, 6A, 6B and 6C. The Eastern Zone was closed to fishing in all parts except Block 31 between 1 January and 31 March. North East greenlip closed 3 June, cap 23 t (24 t caught). Bass Strait Zone east coast Furneaux Group closed 19 August, cap 30 t (27 t caught). Annual catch from waters around the Freycinet Peninsula and northward, (including sub-blocks 26B, 26C, 26D, 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, 27E, 28A & 28B) was capped at 5 t, and the LML increased to 145 mm, these measures to restore populations in the area. It was closed 26 August, 11 t caught. North West greenlip closed 23 September, cap 18.5 t (23 t caught). Block 30Ablacklip closed 23 September, cap 4 t (4.5 t caught). North East blacklip closed 7 October, cap 30 t (32 t caught). Blocks 47, 48, 49 Northern Zone (Hunter &Three Hummock Islands) closed 15 October, cap 100 t (126 t caught). Blocks 5 closed 11 November, cap 60 t (60 t caught). Furneaux Group greenlip closed 25 November, cap 47 t (55 t caught). South West Western Zone closed 2 December, cap 405 t (528 t caught).
2014	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,932 t, or 552 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC remained 528.5 t (151 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC decreased to 840 t (240 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC decreased to 73.5 t (21 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 280 t (80 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained 70 t (20 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, changed from 125 to 121. Catch from part of the Freycinet-Bicheno region (26B-28B) was capped at 10 t at LML 145 mm and closed to fishing on 4 June 2014. It was reopened again at 145 LML on 24 September to spread fishing effort, with a further 10 t cap. South West Western Zone closed 28 April, cap 350 t (287 t caught). South West Western Zone re-opened 26 November (108 t caught). North East greenlip closed 20 March, cap 25.5 t (21 t caught). North West greenlip closed 1 June 2014, cap 21 t (23 t caught). Sub-block 30A closed 1 June 2014, cap 4 t (4 t caught). East Furneaux Bass Strait Zone closed 30 June 2014, cap 30 t (37 t caught). Furneaux Group greenlip closed 23 July, cap 47 t (59 t caught). North East Northern Zone closed 23 July, cap 30 t (44 t caught). Remainder Furneaux Bass Strait Zone closed 8 August, no cap (6 t caught). Block 5 Northern Zone closed 12 November, cap 50 t (54 t caught).
2015	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,855 t, or 530 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC remained at 528.5 t (151 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained at 840 t (240 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC decreased to 52.5 t (15 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 224 t (64 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained at 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained at 70 t (20 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML of 145 mm for the Freycinet-Bicheno region (26B-28B) was retained for 2015. North-East greenlip closed 6 May, 25.5 t cap (30.6 t caught). North-East blacklip closed 10 May, 30 t cap (30.4 t caught). Furneaux Group blacklip closed 17 June, 30 t cap (44.1 t caught). Block 30A closed 24 June, 4 t cap (4.6 t caught). North-West greenlip (except Perkins Bay) closed 24 June, 21 t cap (21.6 t caught). Freycinet blacklip closed 15 July, 20 t cap (22.4 t caught). Albatross Island (49D) closed 5 August, 10 t cap (8 t caught). Central North blacklip closed 5 August, 5 t cap, reopened 7 December (6.5 t caught). Block 5 (5A-C) Northern Zone closed 3 September, 50 t cap (58.4 t caught). Blocks 14, 15, 16 blacklip (excl. 14B) closed 10 October, 50 t cap (51.4 t caught). Blocks 23 and 24 blacklip closed 4 November, (41.3 t caught).
2016	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,694 t, or 484 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC remained at 528.5 t (151 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC decreased to 717.5 t (205 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC decreased to 42 t (12 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 189 t (54 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained 140 t (40 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC increased to 77 t (22 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML of 145 mm for the Freycinet-Bicheno region (26B-28B) was retained for 2016. Albatross Island (49D) closed 19 February, 10 t cap (10.8 t caught). North-east blacklip closed 15 June, 30 t cap (30.2 t caught). Furneaux Group blacklip closed 19 August, 30 t cap (45.7 t caught). North-west greenlip (except Perkins Bay) closed 31 August, 21 t cap (21.6 t caught). North-east greenlip closed 19 August, 21 t cap (34.5 t caught). King Island greenlip closed 14 September, 20 t cap (23.5 t caught). Block 5 blacklip closed 5 October, 50 t cap (53.2 t caught).
2017	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,561 t, or 446 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 444.5 t (127 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained at 717.5 t (205 kg/unit). Central Western Zone TACC decreased to 35 t (10 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 147 t (42 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained at 77 t (22 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC remained at 140 t (40 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML of 145 mm for the Freycinet-Bicheno region (26B-28B) was retained for 2017. Albatross Island (49D) 10 t cap (8.8 t caught) and Block 5 Northern closed 29 March, 42.5 t cap (41.3 t caught). North-east greenlip closed 10 May, 25.5 t cap (29.6 t caught). Northeast blacklip closed 16 June, 27.8 t cap (33.9 t caught). Furneaux Group (east) blacklip closed 19 July, 39.5 t cap (40.1 t caught). King Island greenlip closed 04 September, 20.0 t cap (24.1 t caught). North-west greenlip (except Perkins Bay) 17.8 t cap (18.8 t caught) and Furneaux Group greenlip closed 29 November, 47 t cap (52.5 t caught).
2018	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,333.5 t, or 381 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 294 t (84 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained at 717.5 t (205 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC decreased to 98 t (28 kg/unit), in part due to assigning Central West Zone blocks (6A, 6B, 6C) to the Northern Zone, and assigning Northern Zone Blocks 49A, 49B, 49C, 48 and 47 into the Bass Strait Zone. Bass Strait Zone TACC increased to 91 t (26 kg/unit) in part through inclusion of Blocks 49A, 49B, 49C, 48 and 47 from Northern Zone. Greenlip TACC decreased to 133 t (38 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML of 145 mm for the Freycinet-Bicheno region (26B-28B) was retained for 2018. North-west Sub-blocks 5D, 6A, 6B, 6C and south coast sub-blocks 13A, 13B closed for blacklip 25 April. Block 40 opened for blacklip 30 July. Blocks 28C and 29 closed for blacklip 6 August. Block 49D closed for blacklip 3 September. All Blocks 22 to 31 closed to blacklip 21 September. Blocks 31B and 39 closed to blacklip 12 October. Blocks 10, 11 and 33 closed to blacklip 31 October. Blocks 10, 11, 13A, 13B opened to blacklip 4 December. Blocks 2A, 2B, 2C, 4A closed to greenlip 28 May. Blocks 32 and 33 opened to greenlip 26 June. Blocks 48B, 48C, 49, 5, 40 opened to greenlip 30 July. Blocks 1, 3, 4B and 4C closed to greenlip 3 September. Blocks 31 and 39 opened for greenlip 10 September, and closed 22 September. Block 48B, 48C, 49 and 5 closed to greenlip 27 September. Blocks 32 and 33 closed to greenlip 31 October. Blocks 31, 39, 48B, 48C, 49 and 5 opened to greenlip 17 December.
2019	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,267.0 t, or 362 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 252 t (72 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC remained at 717.5 t (205 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC remained at 98 t (28 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained at 91 t (26 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC decreased from 133 t to 108.5 t (31 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML of 145 mm for the Freycinet Bicheno region (26B-28B) was retained for 2019. The LML for Western Zone increased from 140 mm to 145 mm on July 1. North-west Sub-block 49D, East coast Blocks 22 to 31, and south coast sub-blocks 13A, 13B closed for blacklip 21 April. North-west Blocks 49A, 49B, 49C closed from 23 June. North-west Blocks 5D, 6A, 6B and 6C closed to blacklip fishing 4th August. North-east and Bass Strait Blocks 28B, 28C, blocks 29, 30 and subblock 31A, and sub-block 38A closed to blacklip 27 August. North-west Blocks 48B and 48C closed to blacklip 13 October. North-East and North-West greenlip regions opened 1 July. North-east Blocks 31A, 31B, 39Aand 39B closed to greenlip 8 July. King Island blocks 2A, 2B, 2C and 4A closed to greenlip 4 August. Remaining King Island Blocks closed to Greenlip 7 September. North-west blocks 48 (except for sub-block 48A), 49 and 5 closed to Greenlip 29 September.
2020	The total catch state-wide was set at 1,018.5 t, or 291 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC decreased to 220.5 t (63 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC was reduced to 549.5 t (157 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC was reduced to 73.5 t (21 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC remained at 91 t (26 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC decreased to 84 t (24 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. The LML was increased fro m129mm to 132mm for the Upper North West area (i.e. Wild Wave River to Albatross). East coast Blocks 16, 22, 23, 24, 27 were closed to fishing for 2020. Eastern Zone opened on 1st April. North-west Blocks 49A, 49B, 49C closed 24 April. Bass Strait Blocks opened July 1. South coast sub-blocks 13A, 13B closed for Blacklip 2nd September. Bass Strait blacklip sub-block 38A and East Coast Block 29 closed 4th October. North-west blocks 6, 48, 49, North-east blocks 31, 39, and South-East block 14 closed 9th November. East coast Black-lip block 21 closed 13th December. North-east and North-west Greenlip opened 1st July. North-east Blocks 31A, 31B, 39A and 39B closed to Greenlip 12 July.
2021	The total catch state-wide was set at 833 t, or 238 kg/unit. Eastern Zone TACC was maintained at 220.5 t (63 kg/unit). Western Zone TACC was reduced to 378 t (108 kg/unit). Northern Zone TACC was reduced to 63 t (18 kg/unit). Bass Strait Zone TACC reduced to 87.5 t (25 kg/unit). Greenlip TACC was maintained at 84 t (24 kg/unit). Number of Fishing Licenses (Abalone Dive) or FLAD, remained at 121. East coast Blocks 16, 22, 23, 24, 27 were closed to fishing for 2021. Eastern Zone opened on 1st April. Sub-blocks 6A, 6B, 6C closed 14th April. Sub-blocks 48A, 48B, 48C, 49A, 49B, 49C closed 8th May. Block 29 closed 12th May. South coast sub-blocks 13A, 13B closed 23rd June. Sub-blocks 48A, 48B, 48C, 49A, 49B, 49C re-opened 1st July. Block 38 closed 19th July. Sub-blocks 48A, 48B, 48C, 49A, 49B, 49C closed 18th August. Sub-blocks 28B, 28C closed 22nd August. Block 21 and Sub-block 49D closed 8th October. Sub-blocks 12A, 12B, 12D closed 30th October. Block 5 closed 8th November. Block 20 closed 15th November. Sub-blocks 31B, 39A closed 25th November. Bloc k14 closed 20 December. North-east and North-west Greenlip opened 1st July. North-east Blocks 31A, 31B, 39A and 39B closed to Greenlip 11th July. North-west greenlip closed 5th December.

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