Management
The Tasmanian shellfish fishery is managed by NRE Tasmania under the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and Fisheries (Shellfish) Rules 2017. The Shellfish Fishery Policy Document and Shellfish Policy Update 2017 detail the harvest strategy for Venus Clams in Tasmania. Estimated total biomass and size structure are used in the harvest strategy as performance indicators.
The current management strategy includes limited entry (three licences) and a legal minimum length of 32 mm. The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) is set at 10% of the most recent total biomass estimate. A survey of biomass is conducted by IMAS researchers every two to three years.
Comparison of results obtained from biomass surveys of Vongole beds at Ansons Bay coupled with commercial fishery data
| Year | Total area of fishery (m2) | Population size ('000s) | Density (no./m2) | Biomass (tonnes) | TACC (tonnes) | Estimated catch (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 185800 | 6671 | 35.9 | 75.8 | 9.36 | ? |
| 1998 | 185800 | 11890 | 64 | 98.7 | 9.36 | ? |
| 1999 | 9.36 | ? | ||||
| 2000 | 185800 | 11261 | 60.6 | 148.6 | 9.36 | ? |
| 2001 | 185800 | 14811 | 79.7 | 202.25 | 9.36 | 9.72 |
| 2002 | 185800 | 10598 | 57 | 159.87 | 9.36 | 8.77 |
| 2003 | 9.36 | 8.31 | ||||
| 2004 | 9.36 | 5.71 | ||||
| 2005 | 9.36 | 4.18 | ||||
| 2006 | 185500 | 9483 | 51.1 | 157.64 | 9.36 | 3.01 |
| 2007 | 15.76 | 2.3 | ||||
| 2008 | 15.76 | 8.27 | ||||
| 2009 | 149049 | 7783 | 52.2 | 127.07 | 12.71 | 8.47 |
| 2010 | 12.71 | 12.58 | ||||
| 2011 | 12.71 | 11.94 | ||||
| 2012 | 149049 | 7196 | 48.3 | 133.32 | 13.33 | 12.9 |
| 2013 | 13.33 | 9.17 | ||||
| 2014 | 149049 | 1391 | 9.3 | 27.15 | 13.33 | 0.46 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | 149049 | 1442 | 10.6 | 30.73 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 149049 | 1278 | 8.5 | 23.42 | 0 | 0 |
The recreational catch is considered negligible compared to the commercial catch. There is a combined recreational bag limit for clams, cockles and pipi species.
