The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is implementing changes to recreational fishing rules for greenlip abalone along the south coast to protect the sustainability of stocks but there will be no changes to fishing for brownlip and Roe’s abalone.
Impacts of a previous marine heatwave event, followed by periods of above average sea surface temperatures, have slowed down the recovery of greenlip stocks with the latest scientific stock assessment showing additional management action is needed to protect the sustainability of this species.
From 1 October, when the Southern Zone Recreational Abalone season opens, recreational fishing will not be permitted for greenlip abalone between Busselton Jetty and Shoal Cape in the Stokes National Park, west of Esperance.
DPIRD Director Aquatic Resource Management Nathan Harrison said WA had one of the few remaining sustainable wild stock abalone fisheries in the world and it was vital to take action now to support the recovery of this resource.
“The development of recreational and commercial management arrangements take into account the best available science,” Mr Harrison said.
“The area is already closed to commercial fishing for greenlip abalone as part of the recovery strategy and the recreational closure was developed in consultation with Recfishwest.
“Recreational fishing for brownlip abalone will still be permitted between Busselton Jetty and Shoal Cape with a daily bag limit of five per fisher per day.
“Recreational fishers will also still be permitted to catch Roe’s abalone across the entire southern zone with a bag limit of 20 per fisher per day.
“Fishing for greenlip abalone will still be permitted east of Shoal Cape to the WA/SA border, but a combined daily bag limit of five greenlip and/or brownlip abalone applies.”
Mr Harrison said it was important for recreational fishers to understand that the Southern Zone Recreational Abalone fishery is not being closed to all recreational abalone fishing.
“This new measure only applies to greenlip abalone between Busselton Jetty to Shoal Cape and will assist in recovery of the stock and protect the future sustainability of the resource,” he said.
“I encourage all recreational fishers to make sure they check the Recreational Fishing Guide for information on the new rules and know the difference between greenlip and brownlip abalone before they head out abalone fishing next month along the South Coast.”
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will continue to monitor the recovery of greenlip abalone between Busselton Jetty and Shoal Cape with stock assessments undertaken on an annual basis. The closure will remain in place until an appropriate level of stock recovery is achieved.
The Southern Zone Recreational Abalone season is open from 1 October to 15 May and all fishers must have a current recreational abalone fishing licence to fish for abalone.