South Australian Fisheries

Management Series

Ecological Assessment of the South Australian

Abalone Fishery

Reassessment Report

Prepared for the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

For the purposes of Part 13 and 13(A) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act 1999

June 2013

Prepared by the Fisheries Division of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia

25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide GPO Box 1625

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Table of contents

1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................... 4

2 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 4

3 LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 5

4 FISHERY ................................................................................................................. 6

4.1 Commercial Fishery ......................................................................................... 7 4.1.1 Management Zones ....................................................................................... 7 4.1.2 Harvest strategy .......................................................................................... 12

4.2 Recreational Fishery ...................................................................................... 13 4.3 Allocation of Shares of Abalone Resources ................................................... 13

5 EXTERNAL INFLUENCES ........................................................................................ 15

6 INTERACTION WITH PROTECTED SPECIES ............................................................. 17

7 TARGET STOCK STATUS ........................................................................................ 18

7.1 Southern Zone ............................................................................................... 18 7.2 Central Zone .................................................................................................. 19 7.3 Western Zone ................................................................................................ 20 7.4 Recreational Fishery ...................................................................................... 21

8 BY-PRODUCT AND BY-CATCH STOCK STATUS ....................................................... 21

9 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 22

10.1 Progress summary of recommendations ..................................................... 26

11 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 28

12 ATTACHMENTS .................................................................................................... 31

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Level of assessment required by the South Australian Abalone Fishery. ... 5

Table 2 Summary of management measures for the commercial sector of South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2013*. TACC = total allowable commercial catch ............................................................................................................ 9

Table 3 The performance indicators used in the harvest strategy for the commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery. .................. 12

Table 4 Range of harvest-decision rules following identification of the risk-of-overfishing. ................................................................................................ 12

Table 5 Summary of management measures for the recreational sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2013. ............................................... 13

Table 6 Shares of Abalone species allocated to each fishing sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery under the management plan. ....................... 14

Table 7 Stock status determination of the three classes of abalone from the Southern Zone. .......................................................................................... 18

Table 8 Stock status determination of the two classes of abalone from the Central Zone. ............................................................................................. 19

Table 9 Stock status determination of the three classes of abalone from the Western Zone. ........................................................................................... 20

Table 10 Summary of progress and actions employed against the seven DSEWPaC recommendations for the South Australian Abalone Fishery. ................. 26

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Map of South Australia showing the three management zones of the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

Figure 2 Component tree for the issues related to the general ecosystem effects of the South Australia Abalone Fishery.

Figure 3 Component tree for the non- retained species in the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

Figure 4 Issues related to the retained species of the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

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1 Purpose

This report has been prepared by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA). Its purpose is to provide a revised assessment of the management arrangements in place for the South Australian Abalone Fishery and to update information provided to the Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts (now known as Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Heritage, Population and Communities; DSEWPaC) in 2009 for assessment against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This report has been prepared in accordance with the “Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries” 2nd Edition and particularly addresses the level of change that occurred in the fishery since the last assessment by DSEWPaC.

2 Background

The regulations that govern the management of the South Australian Abalone Fishery are the Fisheries Management Act 2007, the Fisheries Management (Abalone Fisheries) Regulations 2006, the Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2007 and the Fisheries Management (Fish Processor) Regulations 2007. When the Fisheries Management Act 2007 replaced the Fisheries Act 1982 on 1 September 2007, the Abalone Fishery Management Committee was discontinued and a new entity called Abalone Management South Australia Limited (AMSA) was created. This entity was recognised by PIRSA and the abalone industry as the body representing the sustainable management interests of the commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery. AMSA was disbanded a couple of years later and replaced by three representative industry bodies. These bodies are the SZ Abalone Management Inc., Central Zone Abalone Fishery and the Abalone Industry Association of SA Inc. and they represent the Southern Zone Abalone Fishery, Central Zone Abalone Fishery and the Western Zone Abalone Fishery, respectively. A recently completed management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery provides the broad policy framework to guide management decision-making and the harvest strategy for the fishery. This plan can be found on PIRSA’s website www.pir.sa.gov.au and covers all commercial fishing activity related to abalone undertaken within South Australian waters. It also provides a reference to the management measures that have been introduced to ensure the long-term sustainability of South Australia’s abalone resource. The management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery was completed by PIRSA under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and applies from 1 September 2012 for a period of 10 years. A comprehensive review of this management plan for the purpose of determining whether the plan should be amended, replaced or reinstated without amendment, will be undertaken after the

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fifth anniversary of the commencement of the plan (i.e. during 2017). A review on how input from industry is incorporated into the harvest strategy contained within the management plan will commence during the 2014/15 financial year.

3 Level of Assessment

The South Australian Abalone Fishery was last assessed by DSEWPaC in 2009, against the second version of the ‘Guidelines for the Ecological Sustainable Management of Fisheries’. The fishery was considered to be managed in an ecologically sustainable way and its operation was consistent with the objects of Part 13A of the EPBC Act. This fishery was subsequently provided with a three-year exemption from the export controls of the EPBC Act to allow its product to be exported, subject to some recommendations for ongoing improvement. A one year extension was provided on 13 June 2012 to enable the approval of the new management plan and to incorporate the details of this plan within the reassessment report of the fishery. Since the last assessment of the South Australian Abalone Fishery by DSEWPaC, there have only been three significant changes in the areas of interest as outlined in page 5 of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries, 2nd Edition. These are: (1) in the management of the fishery; (2) in external influences; and (3) on stock status (see Table 1). Table 1 Level of assessment required by the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

Issue Area of Interest Yes No

Fishery Has there been any change to management arrangements, and/ or fishing practices?

X

External Influences

Has there been any change to an environmental issue/influence outside of the fishery management agencies control?

X

Interaction with protected species

Has there been any change in the nature, scale, intensity of impact, and/or management response?

X

Ecosystem impact Has there been any change in the nature, scale or intensity of impact, and/or subsequent management response?

X

Target Stock Status

Has there been any change in the target stock status X

By-product/ bycatch status.

Has there been any change in the by-product and/or bycatch stock status?

X

With three changes in the areas of interest out of a possible six, the level of submission required to be provided by PIRSA for the re-assessment of the South Australian Abalone Fishery was ‘Standard plus ancillary level of information’. It is important to note that much of the progress in the recommendations over the last four years since the last assessment have been previously communicated to DSEWPaC through the annual reporting process. The last annual report was provided by PIRSA to DSEWPaC in May 2013.

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4 Fishery

The commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery targets the Blacklip Abalone Haliotis rubra and Greenlip Abalone Haliotis laevigata. Another three species of abalone, namely Haliotis cyclobates, H. scalaris and H. roei, can be taken, but as they rarely reach the legal minimum size limit of 130 mm SL, they are seldom landed by the fishery (PIRSA 2012). This fishery provides approximately 20% of the national wild abalone production and is the third most valuable fishery in South Australia, behind the Southern Rock Lobster and Western King Prawn fisheries. Most (>80%) of the annual catch of South Australian abalone is exported to South East Asia and the total revenue generated by this fishery for the financial year of 2010-11 was AUS $28 million (EconSearch 2012). A new management plan for the fishery was implemented in September 2012. This management plan is consistent with the requirements of the Fisheries Management Act 2007, which requires that all fisheries management plans:

(a) identify the fishery to which the plan relates and describe the biological, economic and social characteristics of the fishery;

(b) identify the impacts or potential impacts of the fishery on its associated ecosystem or ecosystems, including impacts on non-target species of fish or other aquatic resources;

(c) identify any ecological factors that could have an impact on the performance of the fishery;

(d) assess the risks identified under paragraphs (b) and (c) to determine the most serious risks and set out strategies for addressing those risks;

(e) set out methods for monitoring the performance of the fishery and the effectiveness of the plan, including performance indicators, trigger points for review or action and progress reporting;

(f) specify the share of aquatic resources to be allocated to each fishing sector under the plan and prescribe a method, or establish an open and transparent process for determining the method, for adjusting allocations of aquatic resources between the different fishing sectors during the term of the plan; and

(g) provide that compensation will be paid to persons whose licences or licence entitlements are compulsorily acquired in order to reduce the share of aquatic resources allocated to the commercial fishing sector and increase the share allocated to another sector.

PIRSA undertook an Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment of the South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2009 to address requirements b, c and d for the management plan. The ESD risk assessment was carried out in accordance with the National Ecologically Sustainable Development reporting framework, as developed by Fletcher et al. 2002 and set out by the National ESD Reporting Framework for Australian Fisheries (2002) - Version 1.01.

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4.1 Commercial Fishery

4.1.1 Management Zones

The South Australian Government has management jurisdiction for abalone from the low water mark out to three nautical miles. It also has jurisdiction from three nautical miles out to the edge of the Australian Fishing Zone (200 nautical miles) under an Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) agreement between the South Australian and Commonwealth governments. Since 1971, the commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery has been managed as three separate fishery management zones. These are known as the Southern Zone, Central Zone and Western Zone. The Southern Zone includes all coastal waters of South Australia between meridian 139°E and the South Australia/Victoria border, with the exception of the Coorong and waters inside the mouth of the Murray River (Fig. 1). The Central Zone consists of all coastal waters of South Australia between the meridians 136°30‘E and 139°E, while the Western Zone consists of all coastal waters of South Australia between the Western Australia/South Australia border and meridian 136°30‘E (Fig. 1). Although the management arrangements in these three fishery management zones have evolved independently since their separation in 1971, all three zones have subsequently been subdivided into smaller management units:

(1) the Western Zone is sub-divided into Region A (meridian 133°50.8‘E to the meridian of longitude commencing at Mean High Water Springs closest to 32°32′33.78″S, 133°51′02.21″E) and Region B (between Western Australia/South Australia border and the meridian of longitude commencing at Mean High Water Springs closest to 32°32′33.78″S, 133°51′02.21″E), both of which are managed separately;

(2) the Central Zone includes a small sub-zone adjacent to Cowell, an area of ~25 km2, which is managed separately; and

(3) the take of Blacklip Abalone in the Southern Zone is subdivided into Area S (which consists of four fishdown areas, where the minimum legal length is 110 mm SL) and outside Area S (non-fishdown area, where legal length is 125 mm SL).

The most recent stock assessment reports by the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Aquatic Sciences (SARDI Aquatic Sciences) for the Southern Zone, Central Zone, and both the Western Zone Region A and Region B abalone fisheries are attached to this report. Also attached to this report is the most recent biomass survey for Cowell (Mayfield et al. 2008). Earlier versions of stock assessment reports for the three fishery management zones are available on the PIRSA website www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries or the SARDI Aquatic Sciences websites http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/information_and_news/publications.

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Figure 1 Map of South Australia showing the three fishery management zones

of the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

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Table 2 Summary of management measures for the commercial sector of South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2013*. TACC = total allowable commercial catch

Management tool Southern Zone Central Zone Western Zone

Limited entry 6 6 23

TACC (tonnes; shell weight)

Greenlip 7.2

Non-fishdown area Blacklip 105

Fishdown areas (Area S)

Blacklip 46.5

Greenlip 143.1 Blacklip: 24.3

Region A Greenlip 207 Blacklip 262.2

Region B Total 20.7

Quota season 1 September to

31 August 1 January to

31 December 1 January to

31 December

Minimum legal limit (shell length)

130 mm Greenlip 110 mm Blacklip (Area S)

125 mm Blacklip

130 mm Greenlip 130 mm Blacklip

145 mm Greenlip 130 mm Blacklip

Minimum quota unit holding (units)

Greenlip 5

Non-fishdown area Blacklip 50

Fishdown areas (Area S)

Blacklip 50

Blacklip 25 Greenlip 25

Region A Greenlip 25 Blacklip 25

Region B

combined 5

Catch and effort data Daily logbook, submitted monthly

Catch and disposal records

Daily records, submitted upon landing

Landing times Any time during the. season

Landing locations Anywhere in the zone

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Only in the Southern Zone

* 2012/13 in Southern Zone

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Southern Zone

The following management changes have been implemented in the Southern Zone since the last assessment by DSEWPaC in 2009:

In 2009/10, the Greenlip Abalone total allowable commercial catch (TACC) was 6 tonnes, the Blacklip Abalone TACC in the non-fishdown area was 99 tonnes and the Blacklip Abalone TACC in the four fishdown areas (Area S) was 45 tonnes.

The Greenlip Abalone TACC was increased to 7.2 tonnes in 2010/11. To protect stocks from overfishing, industry agreed that that no more than 3 tonnes of the Greenlip Abalone quota would be taken from fishdown area 4, and at least 1.2 tonnes would be taken from the area north of Robe.

The Blacklip Abalone TACCs in the non-fishdown area and Area S were increased by 6 tonnes (to 105 tonnes) and 1.5 tonnes (to 46.5 tonnes), respectively in 2011/12. To protect stocks from overfishing, industry agreed that at least 1.5 tonnes of Blacklip Abalone from Area S would be taken from fishdown area 2.

In 2012/13, TACCs were maintained at 46.5 tonnes for Blacklip Abalone from Area S, 105 tonnes for Blacklip Abalone in the non-fishdown area and 7.2 tonnes for Greenlip Abalone. This was a conservative position because many areas were classified as either underexploited or lightly fished for the three classes of abalone, with none classified as depleted or overexploited.

Further information on the management arrangements for this fishery is available in the Southern Zone stock assessment reports by Mayfield et al. (2009) and Mayfield & Hogg (2011). PIRSA is presently working with industry to develop a framework for managing the Southern Zone Abalone Fishery at a finer spatial scale. This framework may include the following:

the harvest strategy set out in the management plan will be used to set a global TACC for the whole zone on an annual basis.

a total of 13 spatial areas will be established within the zone.

each of the 13 areas will have a biological sustainable catch cap level (note that these catch cap will not equate to the TACC when summed).

when the biological catch cap is reached in each area, the area will be closed to fishing.

It is anticipated that this framework will be in place by the start of the 2013/14 season on 1 September 2013. PIRSA will communicate these changes to DSEWPaC once the framework is finalised.

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Central Zone

The following management changes have been implemented in the Central Zone since the last assessment by DSEWPaC in 2009:

In 2009, the Blacklip Abalone TACC was 24.3 tonnes and the Greenlip Abalone TACC was at 143.1 tonnes. The latter was supported by a voluntary cap on the total harvest from Tiparra Reef to no more than 100 tonnes. A spatially explicit quota of Greenlip Abalone was also allocated to Cowell of 6,486 kg.

No quota was allocated to Cowell in 2010 and voluntary catch caps of 5 tonnes and 3 tonnes were implemented for Port Victoria (Fishing Area 22) and Hardwicke Bay (Fishing Area 24), respectively.

Catch caps for Port Victoria and Hardwicke Bay were removed in 2011.

In 2013, the minimum legal length for Greenlip Abalone was increased by 5 mm to 135 mm shell length, the catch from Tiparra Reef was restricted to 54 tonnes and no fishing was permitted on Tiparra Reef from 1 January to 28 February 2013 and 1 December to 31 December 2013. In addition, licence conditions were implemented to ensure that data loggers are used by all divers on every fishing day and that at least 5 shells of every catch bag is measured by all divers on every fishing day.

Further information on the management arrangements for this fishery is available in the Central Zone stock assessment reports by Mayfield et al. (2008), Mayfield et al. (2010) and Chick & Mayfield (2012).

Western Zone

The following management changes have been implemented in the Western Zone since the last assessment by DSEWPaC in 2009:

In 2009, the combined TACC for Greenlip and Blacklip Abalone in Region B was 41.4 tonnes, the Greenlip Abalone TACC in Region A was 227.7 tonnes and the Blacklip Abalone TACC in Region A was 293.25 tonnes.

The TACCs for Greenlip Abalone and Blacklip Abalone in Region A were decreased to 207 tonnes and 276 tonnes, respectively in 2010.

The combined TACC for Greenlip and Blacklip Abalone in Region B was reduced to 27.6 tonnes for 2011 and this region was closed to fishing from 1 January to 28 February and 1 October to 31 December 2011.

In 2012, the combined TACC for Greenlip and Blacklip Abalone in Region B was reduced to 20.7 tonnes and this region was closed to fishing from 1 January to 29 February and 1 October to 31 December 2012.

In 2013, the Blacklip Abalone TACC in Region A was reduced to 262.2 tonnes and fishing in Region B was closed to fishing from 1 January to 29 February and 1 October to 31 December 2013.

Further information on the management arrangements for this fishery is available in the Western Zone Region A (Chick et al. 2009; Stobart et al. 2011; Stobart et al. 2012) and Region B stock assessment reports (Stobart et al. 2010; Stobart et al. 2012).

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4.1.2 Harvest strategy

The harvest strategy in the new management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery is the primary tool for assessing the performance of the stock and for setting TACCs (PIRSA 2012; Chick & Mayfield 2012; and Stobart et al. 2012). The harvest strategy provides a precautionary approach to managing the fishery and setting the TACC at a level that promotes stock sustainability, protects the fishery from overfishing, as well as providing certainty and stability for the industry. This harvest strategy uses up to six performance indicators (Table 3) to:

assess the risk that the abalone stocks in each spatial assessment unit (SAU) are overfished;

determine stock status for the fishing zone; and

link the risk-of-overfishing category for each SAU with decision rules (see Table 4) and industry-based information to determine TACCs.

As the magnitude of abalone catches varies spatially, the assessment of SAUs are prioritised (high, medium and low) and weighted by catch. Table 3 The performance indicators used in the harvest strategy for the

commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

Table 4 Range of harvest-decision rules following identification of the risk-of-

overfishing.

Risk-of-overfishing category Harvest-decision rules (% change in catch contribution)

RED At least 30% reduction

YELLOW 10-30% reduction

GREEN 10% reduction to 10% increase

BLUE Up to 30% increase

LIGHT BLUE Up to 50% increase

Performance

indicator

Description

Catch Total catch, expressed as a percentage of the TACC

%Large Proportion of large abalone in the commercial catch

CPUE Commercial catch-per-unit effort (kg/hr) of legal-sized abalone

Densitylegal Density of legal-sized abalone on surveys

Densitypre-recruit

Density of pre-recruit (i.e. those that will exceed MLL within ~2 yr)

abalone on surveys

Total mortality

Measure of the difference between the MLL and the mean length of

legal-sized abalone. For consistency with other PIs, it is expressed as

1/total mortality

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The four underlying principles adhered to in the development of the harvest strategy were:

Effective delivery on stock sustainability outcomes.

Understandability and practicality for managers and stakeholders to apply.

Effective engagement of key stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Cost-effectiveness.

For detailed information about the management arrangements of the commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery, including the harvest strategy, stock assessment and research, ecosystem impacts and compliance and monitoring arrangements, please refer to the ‘Management Plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery’ by PIRSA (2012).

4.2 Recreational Fishery

The recreational sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery is managed through a combination of output controls that aim to ensure the total recreational catch is maintained within sustainable limits and that access to the fishery and fishing opportunities are equitably distributed between participants. These regulations are outlined below in Table 5 and include legal minimum legal lengths, as well as daily bag and boat bag limits. Most of the regulations used to manage the recreational sector have been in force for many years and can be found in the South Australian Recreational Fishing Guide. This fishing guide is available on the PIRSA website at www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries. Table 5 Summary of management measures for the recreational sector of the

South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2013.

Management tool Southern Zone Central Zone Western Zone

Minimum legal length (shell length)

130 mm Blacklip 130 mm Greenlip

130 mm Blacklip 130 mm Greenlip

130 mm Blacklip 145 mm Greenlip

Daily boat limit 10 abalone per day 10 abalone per day 10 abalone per day

Daily bag limit 5 abalone per person per day

5 abalone per person per day

5 abalone per person per day

4.3 Allocation of Shares of Abalone Resources

Under the new management plan, the commercial, recreational and Aboriginal traditional sectors have been allocated explicit shares of the state-wide Abalone resource of 99.74%, 0.15% and 0.11% respectively (see Table 6), in accordance with the requirements of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and the government’s Allocation Policy.

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Table 6 Shares of Abalone species allocated to each fishing sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery under the management plan.

Species Commercial Recreational Aboriginal traditional

Abalone spp. 99.74% 0.15% 0.11%

The information used to allocate shares of aquatic resources in the management plan was derived from the following sources: South Australian Recreational Fishing Survey (Jones 2009); Central Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery (Mayfield et al

2008); Southern Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery (Mayfield et al

2009); Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery (Region A) (Chick

et al 2009); and Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery (Region B)

(Stobart et al 2010). The first comprehensive review of shares between sectors will be commenced by 2017 (five years after the commencement of the management plan). A need for adjustment of shares between different sectors may be triggered by:

a review of the allocations between sectors;

a review of the management plan, which will reassess the appropriateness of shares and may trigger an adjustment; or

outcomes of a resource assessment, which triggers a fisheries management decision that is made primarily to ensure sustainability of the fishery but that may result in a shift of shares between sectors.

Further information about the allocation of shares of Abalone resources is available in the management plan.

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5 External Influences

Blacklip Abalone are found throughout southern Australia from D’Entrecasteaux Reef in South Australia to South Cape in Tasmania, and northwards to Sydney in New South Wales. However, the bulk of the population is found in Tasmania (Mayfield et al. 2012). Blacklip Abalone predominantly occupy high-profile reef areas at depths ranging from 3 to 30 metres (Table 7). Juveniles are more cryptic than adults and are commonly found in crevices. Greenlip Abalone are also found throughout southern Australia, but from Corner Inlet in Victoria to Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia. The bulk of the Greenlip Abalone population is found in South Australia and they predominantly occupy low-profile reef areas at depths ranging from 5 to 50 metres (Mayfield et al. 2012). Within their geographic range, both of these species of abalone tend to form dense feeding and breeding aggregations on suitable habitat patches, and these groups are themselves clustered in larger groups (called local populations), which can extend over several hectares (Shepherd 2008). These aggregations are highly visible, making it easy for divers to learn their location and effectively target them for collection (Prince 2006). Local populations are scattered along the coast in suitable habitat, and the ones that are linked by dispersal of their larvae are called meta-populations (Shepherd 2008). Factors that affect the dispersal of larvae, such as water temperature and currents can therefore have a large impact on recruitment and the productive capacity of the population. The ecological impacts associated with the South Australian Abalone Fishery were identified in consultation with stakeholders and assessed through the process of conducting an Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) risk assessment. The National ESD Reporting Framework for Australian Fisheries of Fletcher et al. (2002) was used as a guide throughout this process. All the ecological, economic and social factors that affect the management of the South Australian Abalone Fishery were prioritised by stakeholders at a workshop using risk ratings from negligible to extreme. The component tree for the issues related to the general ecosystem effects of the South Australian Abalone Fishery is shown in Figure 2. A total of thirteen risks with a Moderate rating or higher were identified. These risks are summarised in the ESD Risk Assessment for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery (PIRSA 2009). Of these, the two highest risks identified for this fishery were: 1. an outbreak of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) in the Southern Zone; and 2. sufficient resources for Policy, Management and research to ensure the Greenlip and Blacklip Abalone resource is harvested within sustainable limits Where possible, specific management strategies to minimise these thirteen risks and associated performance indicators have been developed and incorporated into the management plan. Detailed information about the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery and both the methodology and outcomes of the ESD risk assessment are provided in the report Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery (PIRSA 2009).

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Impact on predators

Impact on competitors

removal of abalone

Discarding (shells and guts)

Impacts on trophic structure

Anchoring

Dive equipment

Beach launching

Habitat disturbance

Greenhouse gas emissions

Air quality

Rubbish/ debris

Bilge discharge

Hydraulic oil (for cages)

Water quality

Broader environment Disease

General ecosystem effects of the fishery

Figure 2 Component tree for the issues related to the general ecosystem

effects of the South Australia Abalone Fishery (PIRSA 2009). Disease outbreaks are a threat to abalone populations, particularly given their sedentary life history and restricted gene pool within populations. Two known diseases that pose a high threat to abalone populations in South Australia are Perkinsus (endemic to SA) and Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG; exotic to SA). The parasite, Perkinsus, is widespread in gastropod species, and even a slight warming of water of 1-2°C is likely to increase the incidence of this parasite. Thus, ocean warming is likely to increase disease incidents and may result in a decline in abundance of abalone (Harvell et al. 2002; Vilchis et al. 2005). AVG is arguably the biggest threat to the commercial sector of the South Australian Abalone Fishery (particularly for the Southern Zone). To mitigate the threat of AVG spreading in South Australian waters though human activities, PIRSA has prepared an emergency response plan in the event of an outbreak in either the aquaculture or wild harvest sectors. The plan provides specific guidelines for PIRSA staff to respond in the event of a suspected or confirmed AVG outbreak. It has been prepared in accordance with the draft national disease strategy (AQUAVETPLAN) for AVG (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and is underpinned by the Biosecurity Control Measures for AVG: a code of practice (FRDC report 2006/243). The emergency response plan was also developed with consideration of previous outbreaks and fisheries management responses in both Victoria and in Tasmania. PIRSA’s preparedness has also involved simulation and case scenario exercises, letters and information to licence holders, as well as a public awareness campaign including a webpage, brochures and media releases.

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6 Interaction with Protected Species

Current management arrangements require licence holders from all South Australian commercial fisheries, including the South Australian Abalone Fishery, to complete a threatened, endangered and protected species (TEPS) interaction logbook each time an interaction occurs with a TEPS and provide the returns to SARDI Aquatic Sciences with their monthly catch logbook returns. A review of logbook returns for the South Australian Abalone Fishery (see Knight and Vainickis 2011a;b) indicates minimal interactions with TEPS and suggests that this fishery is conducted in a manner that avoids mortality of, or injuries to, TEPS and avoids or minimises impacts on threatened ecological communities. Detailed information about the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery and both the methodology and outcomes of the ESD risk assessment are provided in the report Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery (PIRSA 2009). Figure 3 shows the component tree for the non-retained species in the South Australian Abalone Fishery. The take of non-retained species was categorised as low in this fishery.

Figure 3 Component tree for the non- retained species in the South Australian

Abalone Fishery (PIRSA 2009).

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7 Target Stock Status

7.1 Southern Zone

The stock status of Blacklip Abalone from the four fishdown areas and the non-fishdown area of the Southern Zone and Greenlip Abalone are shown in Table 7. Table 7 Stock status determination of the three classes of abalone from the

Southern Zone.

Stock Greenlip Abalone Blacklip Abalone

Fishdown areas (Area S) Non-fishdown area

Stock Status

Undefined Sustainably fished Sustainably fished

Indicator Catch Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative

abundance, exploitation rate

Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative abundance,

exploitation rate

7.1.1 Greenlip Abalone Greenlip Abalone comprise a small component (<5 per cent) of the commercial abalone catch in the Southern Zone. The costs of obtaining additional fishery-independent data for assessment are restrictive given the small TACC and low value of this species in this zone. Limited data makes formal status assessment difficult and consequently, high reliance is placed on diver observations and commercial catch history. Whilst there was no evidence that the Greenlip Abalone TACC was not sustainable in the most recent stock assessment of the Southern Zone (Mayfield and Hogg 2011), there is insufficient information to confidently formally classify status (Table 7). On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Greenlip Abalone stock in the Southern Zone is classified as undefined. 7.1.2 Blacklip Abalone-‘Non fish-down area’ The primary measure for stock status of Blacklip Abalone in the Southern Zone is CPUE (kg/hr). In 2010/11, the CPUE of Blacklip Abalone in the waters outside of Area S (i.e. non-fishdown area) was among the highest on record (Mayfield and Hogg 2011). Relatively high CPUEs were also evident in most fishing grounds. On the basis of the evidence provided in Mayfield and Hogg (2011), the Blacklip Abalone stock in the non-fishdown area of the Southern Zone stock is classified as sustainably fished. 7.1.3 Blacklip Abalone-Area S (four ‘fish-down areas’) The primary measure for stock status of Blacklip Abalone in the Southern Zone is CPUE (kg/hr). In 2010/11, the CPUE on Blacklip Abalone in the waters of Area S (i.e. in the four fishdown areas) were among the highest on record. Relatively high CPUEs were also evident in most fishing grounds. On the basis of the evidence provided in Mayfield and Hogg (2011), the Blacklip Abalone stock in the four-fishdown areas of the Southern Zone (Area S) is classified as sustainably fished.

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7.2 Central Zone

The stock status of Greenlip Abalone and Blacklip Abalone from the Central Zone is shown in Table 8. The status of Cowell was not included in this determination because there has been no exploitation of abalone from this region since 2009 (section 7.2.3). Table 8 Stock status determination of the two classes of abalone from the

Central Zone.

Stock Greenlip Abalone Blacklip Abalone

Stock Status

Over-fished Sustainably fished

Indicator Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative abundance,

exploitation rate

Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative abundance,

exploitation rate

7.2.1 Greenlip Abalone-Central Zone One high and four medium importance spatial assessment units (SAUs) were assessed in the most recent stock assessment of Greenlip Abalone in the Central Zone (Chick and Mayfield 2012). The primary fishing ground, Tiparra Reef SAU, was assessed as having a high risk of being over-fished, whilst those fishing grounds adjacent to Kangaroo Island had very low risks of being overfished. Overall, the status of Greenlip Abalone in the Central Zone was assessed as overfished (Chick and Mayfield 2012; Table 8). On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Greenlip Abalone stock in the Central Zone is classified as overfished. 7.2.2 Blacklip Abalone-Central Zone One medium importance SAU was assessed in the most recent stock assessment of Blacklip Abalone in the Central Zone (Chick and Mayfield 2012). The primary fishing ground, West Kangaroo Island SAU, was assessed as having a low risk of being over-fished. Overall, the status of the Blacklip Abalone fishery in the Central Zone was assessed as sustainably fished (Chick and Mayfield 2012; Table 8). On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Blacklip Abalone stock in the Central Zone is classified as sustainably fished. 7.2.3 Cowell The last survey to determine the distribution, abundance, biomass and commercial potential of Greenlip Abalone off Cowell was undertaken in 2008 (Mayfield et al. 2008). The estimate of mean, legal size, bled meat-weight biomass in the survey in 2008 was 26.6 tonnes. In comparison, it was 41.3 tonnes in 2006 and 36.5 tonnes in 2007. The reduction since 2006 was >30%. Sequential declines in mean daily catch, CPUE and survey-measured, legal-sized bled-meat-weight biomass suggest that the resource has weakened since exploitation re-commenced off Cowell in 2006. After poor catch rates in 2009, this region was subsequently closed to fishing in 2010.

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7.3 Western Zone

The stock status determined for Region B and Greenlip Abalone and Blacklip Abalone from Region A of the Western Zone is shown in Table 9. Table 9 Stock status determination of the three classes of abalone from the

Western Zone.

Stock Region B Region A

Blacklip Abalone Greenlip Abalone

Stock Status

Over-fished Sustainably fished Sustainably fished

Indicator Catch, catch rate Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative abundance,

exploitation rate

Catch, catch rate, fishery-independent relative abundance,

exploitation rate

7.3.1 Greenlip Abalone-Region A In the most recent stock assessment of Greenlip Abalone in Region A of the Western Zone, four high and seven medium importance SAUs were assessed (Stobart et al. 2012a). Few SAUs were assessed as having stocks with either a moderate or high risk of overfishing, but several had very low risks of being overfished. Overall, the status of Greenlip Abalone in Region A of the Western Zone was assessed as sustainably fished (Stobart et al. 2012a; Table 9). On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Greenlip Abalone stock in Region A of the Western Zone is classified as sustainably fished. 7.3.2 Blacklip abalone-Region A In the most recent stock assessment of Blacklip Abalone in Region A of the Western Zone, eight high and five medium importance SAUs were assessed (Stobart et al. 2012a). Five SAUs were assessed as having stocks with either a moderate or high risk of overfishing, but three had low risks of being overfished. Overall, the status of Blacklip Abalone in Region A of the Western Zone was assessed as sustainably fished (Stobart et al. 2012a; Table 9). On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Blacklip Abalone stock in Region A of the Western Zone is classified as sustainably fished. 7.3.3 Region B The primary measure for stock status in Region B is CPUE (kg/hr). Blacklip Abalone CPUE across Region B declined by 40% between 2009 and 2011 to the lowest level on record (Stobart et al. 2012b). Similarly, Greenlip Abalone CPUE has been declining across Region B since 2003 and, in 2011, was at the lowest level in the history of the fishery (Stobart et al. 2012). The recent decreases in Greenlip Abalone CPUE were also spatially consistent and, in 2011, were among the lowest levels in >30 years at the North Nuyts (Stobart et al. 2012b). On the basis of the evidence provided above, abalone stocks in Region B of the Western Zone are classified as overfished.

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7.4 Recreational Fishery

The first comprehensive survey of recreational catch and effort levels for abalone in South Australia was provided by the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle 2003). This survey was undertaken for the period May 2000 to April 2001 and estimated that the total recreational catch of abalone consisted of 17,780 animals, weighing ~9 tonnes (~1% of total state-wide catch). A more recent survey was undertaken for the period October 2007 to September 2008 by Jones (2009). The latter survey estimated that the total catch of abalone by recreational fishers in South Australia was 5,147 animals (3,462 Greenlip and 1,685 Blacklip Abalone), with a catch weight of 2.348 tonnes (1,690 kg Greenlip and 658 kg Blacklip Abalone). This represented less than 0.27% of the total state-wide catch taken over the same period.

8 By-product and by-catch stock status

The South Australian Abalone Fishery is a selective fishery, using hand-collection of the abalone. As such, there is no by-product. The only by-catch is the few species that are found on the shell of abalone. These include shell boring polychaetes, algae, bivalves and gastropods, as can be observed in Figure 4. The risk of the fishery of retained species other than abalone was assessed during the ESD risk assessment. The overall environmental impacts associated with this fishery are considered to be low because both main species of abalone are hand selected by divers operating from vessels that seldom anchor. Thus, the fishery has limited direct physical impact on the environment. There is also evidence that the ecosystem effects of removing are minimal (Jenkins 2004, Hamer et al. 2010, Valentine et al. 2010).

Western Zone Region A

Western Zone Region B

Central Zone

Cowell

Southern Zone

Broodstock

Research

Greenlip abalone

Western Zone Region A

Western Zone Region B

Central Zone

Fishdown Areas

>110 mm SL

Non-fishdown areas

>125 mm SL

Southern Zone

Research

Blacklip abalone

Primary Species

Haliotis cyclobates

Haliotis scalaris

Haliotis roei

Secondary species

Algae

Shell boring polychaetes

Bivalves

Sponges

Southern Zone

By-catch

Retained Species

Figure 4 Issues related to the retained species of the South Australian Abalone

Fishery (PIRSA 2009).

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9 Recommendations

Recommendation 1: Operation of the fishery will be carried out in accordance with the management arrangements for the SA Abalone Fishery in force under the SA Fisheries Management Act 2007. The Fisheries Management Act 2007 and Regulations made under the Act, namely Fisheries Management (Abalone Fisheries) Regulations 2006, the Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2007 and the Fisheries Management (Fish Processor) Regulations 2007, provide for the management of South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery. The recently completed management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery provides the broad policy framework to guide management decision-making and the harvest strategy for the fishery. This plan covers all commercial fishing activity related to abalone undertaken within South Australian waters. It also provides a reference to the management measures that have been introduced to ensure the long-term sustainability of South Australia’s abalone resource. The management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery was developed in accordance with the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and applies from 1 September 2012 for a period of 10 years. Recommendation 2: PIRSA to inform the DEWHA of any intended amendments to the SA Abalone Fishery’s management arrangements that may affect the assessment of the fishery against the criteria on which EPBC Act decisions are based. PIRSA understands the importance of maintaining regular and open lines of communication with DSEWPaC, and will continue to communicate any changes in the management arrangements of the South Australian Abalone Fishery that may affect the assessment of the fishery against the criteria on which EPBC Act decisions are based. PIRSA will continue to communicate these changes as they arise, and through the annual reporting process. Recommendation 3: PIRSA to produce and present reports to DEWHA annually as per Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition. PIRSA has produced and presented reports to DSEWPaC on annual basis since 2005. The information provided in these reports is consistent with that recommended in Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition. PIRSA will continue to produce and present reports to DSEWPaC on annual basis to ensure this recommendation is achieved.

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Recommendation 4: PIRSA to finalise and implement the new management plan. The Management Plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery was finalised in August 2012. It commenced operation on 1 September 2012 and will be in place for 10 years. A comprehensive review of this management plan will be undertaken after the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the plan (i.e. during 2017) to determine whether the plan should be amended, replaced or reinstated without amendment. A review on how input from industry is incorporated into the harvest strategy will commence during the 2014/15 financial year. Recommendation 5: PIRSA to continue to consult with other fishery agencies on the development and implementation of appropriate biological parameters and reference points for abalone harvesting, and pursue a national process for developing, adopting and reviewing these indicators, and for periodically reviewing the stock assessment processes. South Australia shares management and stock assessment information with Tasmania and Victoria through regular updates and both the provision and formal review of stock status and stock assessment reports. For example, the 2012 Central Zone stock assessment report was reviewed by Malcolm Haddon at CSIRO in Tasmania. The need for a project that develops appropriate biological parameters and reference points for abalone harvesting was identified by PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, SARDI Aquatic Sciences and the Abalone Industry Association of South Australia several years ago. The latter successfully gained support for this project from the Abalone Council of Australia (ACA) and received it. In September 2007, a national workshop was held to develop an agreed research and development program for implementation of a national performance based harvest management system for abalone fisheries. A notable outcome of this workshop was to specifically develop and implement appropriate biological parameters and reference points that can be used nationally to harvest abalone. Subsequently, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation funded a project (FRDC 2007/020) with the specific aims of reviewing and formally evaluating management strategies for abalone fisheries. The project, entitled “Identification and Evaluation of Performance Indicators for Abalone Fisheries” is nearing completion. PIRSA and SARDI remain actively involved in this project. The new harvest strategy for the South Australian Abalone Fishery, developed during 2011 and 2012, capitalises on the work outputs to date from FRDC 2007/020. In addition, the harvest strategy received substantial input nationally during its development and has subsequently been subjected to national and international review, including Tasmania, New South Wales and New Zealand. In conjunction with SARDI Aquatic Sciences, PIRSA continues to evaluate the harvest strategy.

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Recommendation 6: PIRSA, in conjunction with the finalisation of the new management plan, to continue to implement strategies to:

• more accurately quantify the extent of recreational, indigenous and illegal catch; and

• take account of all removals, including for aquaculture broodstock, in the stock assessment process and the determination of the annual TAC.

The new management plan for the South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery includes allocations of access shares to the commercial, recreational and Aboriginal traditional fishing sectors. To ensure that each sector adheres to its share, allocations between sectors are to be reviewed periodically, in accordance with the criteria set out in the Allocation Policy. The most recent survey of the recreational sector was undertaken for the period October 2007 to September 2008 by Jones (2009). This survey estimated that the total catch of abalone by recreational fishers in South Australia was 5,147 animals (3,462 Greenlip and 1,685 Blacklip Abalone), with a catch weight of 2.348 tonnes (1,690 kg Greenlip and 658 kg Blacklip Abalone). The next recreational fishing survey will be completed in 2013/14. Little quantattive information is available on the take of abalone spp. by the Aboriginal traditional fishing sector; however, the small number of native title claims with fishery-related interests and negotiations to date has informed the share that has been put aside for this purpose. A nominal share of 0.11% has been made to this sector in the management plan, which has been deducted from the total recreational share. This is because Aboriginal traditional fishing is non-commercial fishing. Access to South Australia’s fisheries resources by Aboriginal communities shall be provided through Aboriginal traditional fishing management plans. These plans may be developed when an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA), agreed to resolve a native title claim, is in place in relation to a native title claim area. PIRSA is currently engaged in ILUA negotiations with native title claimants and other stakeholder groups, including the commercial fishing industry. The agreements arising from these negotiation processes will inform the way that access to abalone by Aboriginal communities is defined and implemented. This process also includes the development of methodologies for measuring Aboriginal traditional fishing activities in South Australia. Some illegal abalone fishing is undoubtedly undertaken in the South Australian Abalone Fishery. However, as in most fisheries, it is difficult to quantify of abalone illegally removed from the fishery each year. Past estimates, such as those from the FRDC project “Assessment of Illegal Catches of Australian Abalone” by Gorfine et al. (2002), may not be a reliable representation of the extent of illegal harvesting in South Australia.

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The implementation of systems for monitoring the TACC combined with the prior reporting system has reduced opportunities for the disposal of illegal catches. Regardless, methods to quantify illegal catch levels, and its biological and economic impact, have been identified as a strategy in the current management plan and strategic research plan. Annual compliance risk assessments consider illegal fishing activities in the South Australian Abalone Fishery and guide compliance activities and management decision-making. During 2010/11, PIRSA received 92 information reports relevant to the Western Zone and identified that, through 13 of these reports, at least 1,650 kg (meat weight) and 656 whole abalone were taken illegally. By attributing an estimated weight of 140 g per abalone, the weight of the whole abalone would be 91.8 kg, and the total meat weight for the 13 information reports was estimated at 1741.8 kg. Applying this value to the 92 information reports received, the estimated illegal catch of abalone in the Western Zone equates to about 12 tonnes (meat weight), which equates to 7.5% of the TACC. In the Central Zone, it was estimated that approximately 2.3 tonnes (meat weight) of abalone were taken illegally, which equates to less than 2% of the TACC. PIRSA currently manage the number of abalone collected for aquaculture broodstock use through Ministerial exemptions. In 2012, the operators holding Ministerial exemption were allowed to harvest a less than 300 Greenlip Abalone and 50 Blacklip Abalone for broodstock use. This represents < 0.02% of the average annual commercial catch of abalone. All available removal estimates are taken into consideration by SARDI Aquatic Sciences during stock assessments. Recommendation 7: PIRSA to continue to work with other jurisdictions to develop and implement effective strategies and response measures to quantify and reduce the extent of illegal take of abalone in South Australia. South Australia has intelligence-sharing arrangements with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and there are joint compliance operations between South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. PIRSA will continue to quantify illegal catch levels, and its biological and economic impact. To help achieve this goal, the compliance section of PIRSA will participate in National forums to address organised illegal activity in Australian abalone fisheries. The special operations group of PIRSA conduct several operations per year targeting organised illegal activity based on intelligence reports to regulate and deter illegal fishing. To reduce the extent of illegal take of abalone in South Australia, higher penalties for illegal activity are in place under the new Act compared to the previous legislation. The Fisheries Management Act 2007 also includes provisions to implement a National Docketing System (NDS).

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10.1 Progress summary of recommendations

PIRSA in conjunction with the licence holders, SARDI Aquatic Sciences and other stakeholders have completely implemented one recommendation for the South Australian Abalone Fishery and made substantial progress on another three. The remaining three recommendations require ongoing assessment. Table 10 provides a summary of progress against the recommendations. Table 10 Summary of progress and actions employed against the seven

DSEWPaC recommendations for the South Australian Abalone Fishery.

No Recommendation Actions Progress

1* Operation of the fishery will be carried out in accordance with the management arrangements for the SA Abalone Fishery in force under the SA Fisheries Management Act 2007.

Use the management plan developed in accordance with Fisheries Management Act 2007, to guide management decision-making for fishery.

Ongoing

2 PIRSA to inform the DEWHA of any intended amendments to the SA Abalone Fishery’s management arrangements that may affect the assessment of the fishery against the criteria on which EPBC Act decisions are based.

PIRSA will communicate changes to management arrangements as they arise, and through the annual reporting process.

Ongoing

3 PIRSA to produce and present reports to DEWHA annually as per Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition.

PIRSA will continue to produce and present reports to DSEWPaC on annual basis as per Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition.

Ongoing

4 PIRSA to finalise and implement the new management plan.

Management plan for South Australian commercial Abalone Fishery implemented on 1 September 2012 for 10 years

Completed

5 PIRSA to continue to consult with other fishery agencies on the development and implementation of appropriate biological parameters and reference points for abalone harvesting, and pursue a national process for developing, adopting and reviewing these indicators, and for periodically reviewing the stock assessment processes.

Following national workshop in 2007, a project (FRDC 2007/020) aimed at reviewing and evaluating management strategies for abalone fisheries is in progress. This project is nearing completion.

The harvest strategy for the South Australian Abalone Fishery capitalises on the work outputs from FRDC 2007/020 and received national input during its development

Substantial

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6 PIRSA, in conjunction with the finalisation of the new management plan, to continue to implement strategies to:

• more accurately quantify the extent of recreational, indigenous and illegal catch; and

• take account of all removals, including for aquaculture broodstock, in the stock assessment process and the determination of the annual TAC.

Recreational surveys undertaken in 2000/01 and 2007/08 with another scheduled for 2013/14.

PIRSA engaged in ILUA negotiations with native title claimants, which includes the development of methodologies for measuring Aboriginal traditional fishing actives in South Australia.

PIRSA to continue to refine estimates of the illegal catch.

PIRSA tracks exemptions for broodstock collection each year

SARDI takes all available estimates into account during stock assessments.

Substantial

7 PIRSA to continue to work with other jurisdictions to develop and implement effective strategies and response measures to quantify and reduce the extent of illegal take of abalone in South Australia.

PIRSA’s Special Operations Group conduct several operations per year targeting organised illegal activity based on intelligence reports to regulate and deter illegal fishing.

PIRSA is working collaborative with other jurisdictions on compliance activities.

PIRSA to continue to participate in National forums to address organised illegal activity in Australian abalone fisheries.

PIRSA to implement National Docketing System (NDS) and updated penalties and other compliance provisions in the Fisheries Management Act 2007.

Higher penalties for illegal activity are in place under the new Act.

Ongoing

Contact Officers: Dr Lianos Triantafillos Phone: (08) 8226 2961 Email: lianos.triantafillos@sa.gov.au Mark Ayliffe Phone: 8226 2312 Email: mark.ayliffe@sa.gov.au

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11 References

Chick RC, Turich N & Mayfield S (2009). Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery 1. Region A. Fishery status report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000561-2. SARDI Research Report Series No. 289. 40pp. Chick RC & Mayfield S (2012). Central Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata & H. rubra) Fishery. Fishery Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000611-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 652. 67pp. Gorfine H, Tailby R, Grant F, Bruce I & Donaldson M (2002). Assessment of illegal catches of abalone: development of desk-based survey methods. Final Report to Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Project No. 2000/112. Canberra, ACT. 200pp. Harvell CD, Mitchell CE, Ward JR, Altizer S, Dobson A, Ostfeld RS and Samuel MD (2002). Climate warming and disease risks for terrestrial and marine biota. Science 296: 2158-2162 Henry GW & Lyle JM (2003). The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey. Final Report to the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation Project No. 1999/158. 188pp. Jones, K. (2009) South Australian Recreational Fishing Survey. PIRSA Fisheries, Adelaide, 84 pp. South Australian Fisheries Management Series Paper No 54. Knight MA & Tsolos A (2012). South Australian Wild Fisheries Information and Statistics Report 2010/11. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2008/000804-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 612. 57pp. Knight MA & Vainickis AA (2011a). Interactions with Threatened, Endangered or Protected Species in South Australian Managed Fisheries – 2007/08, 2008/09, and 2009/10. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2009/000544-1. SARDI Research Report Series No.534. 44pp. Knight MA & Vainickis AA (2011b). Interactions with Threatened, Endangered or Protected Species in South Australian Managed Fisheries – 2008/09, 2009/10, and 2010/11. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture (PDF 3.7 MB). South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2009/000544-2. SARDI Research Report Series No. 593. 41pp.

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Mayfield S, Carlson IJ & Chick RC (2008). Central Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata and H. rubra) Fishery. Fishery assessment report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000611-2. SARDI Research Report Series No. 306. 65pp. Mayfield S, Chick RC, Carlson IJ & Ward TM (2012). Invertebrate dive fisheries can be sustainable: 40 years of production from a greenlip abalone fishery off southern Australia. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 19: 216-230. Mayfield S, Hogg A & Saunders TM (2007). Southern Zone Abalone (Haliotis rubra and H. laevigata) Fishery. Fishery assessment report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000552-1. SARDI Research Report Series No. 220. 47pp. Mayfield S, Hogg A, Saunders TM & Burch P (2009). Southern Zone Abalone Fishery (Haliotis rubra & H. laevigata). Fishery Assessment Report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000552-2. SARDI Research Report Series No.350. 51pp. Mayfield S, McGarvey R, Carlson IJ, Burch P & Feenstra J (2008). Biomass of greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) off Cowell in 2008. Report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000706-3. SARDI Research Report Series No. 311. 18pp. Mayfield S & Saunders T. (Eds) (2008). Towards optimising the spatial scale of abalone fishery management. Final report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Project No. 2004/019. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2008/000082-1. SARDI Research Report Series No. 273. ISBN 978-0-7308-5386-2. 148pp. Mayfield SA & Hogg A (2011). Southern Zone Abalone Fishery (Haliotis rubra & H. laevigata). Fishery Assessment Report for PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000552-3. SARDI Research Report Series No. 535. 57pp. PIRSA (2009). Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment of the South Australian Abalone Fishery. Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia. 81pp. PIRSA (2012) Management Plan for the commercial Abalone Fishery of South Australia. Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide. 89pp. PIRSA (2012) Allocation Policy: Allocation of access to fisheries resources between fishing sectors. Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide. 39pp. Shepherd SA (2008). Abalone of Gulf St Vincent. In: Shepherd, S.A., Bryars, S., Kirkegaard, I.R., Harbison, P. & Jennings, J.T. (Eds), Natural History of Gulf St Vincent. Royal Society of South Australia, Adelaide. Pp 448-455.

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Stobart B, Mayfield S, Dent J. & Matthews DJ (2012).Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata & H. rubra) Fishery (Region B). Fishery Stock Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2010/000389-2. SARDI Research Report Series No. 661. 32pp. Stobart B, Mayfield S, Dent J, Matthews DJ & Chick RC (2012). Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis rubra & H. laevigata) Fishery (Region A). Fishery Stock Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000561-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 660. 118pp. Vilchis LI, Tegner MJ, Moore JD, Friedman CS, Riser KL, Robbins TT & Dayton PK (2005). Ocean Warming effects on growth, reproduction and survivorship of southern California abalone.

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12 Attachments1

1. PIRSA (2012) Management Plan for the commercial Abalone Fishery of South Australia. Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide. 89pp.

2. Mayfield SA & Hogg A (2011). Southern Zone Abalone Fishery (Haliotis rubra & H. laevigata). Fishery Assessment Report for PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000552-3. SARDI Research Report Series No. 535. 57pp.

3. Chick RC & Mayfield S (2012). Central Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata & H. rubra) Fishery. Fishery Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000611-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 652. 67pp.

4. Stobart B, Mayfield S, Dent J, Matthews DJ & Chick RC (2012). Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis rubra & H. laevigata) Fishery (Region A). Fishery Stock Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2007/000561-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 660. 118pp.

5. Stobart B, Mayfield S, Dent J. & Matthews DJ (2012).Western Zone Abalone (Haliotis laevigata & H. rubra) Fishery (Region B). Fishery Stock Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2010/000389-2. SARDI Research Report Series No. 661. 32pp.

6. Mayfield, S., McGarvey, R., Carlson, I., Burch, P. & Feenstra, J. (2008). Biomass of greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) off Cowell in 2008. Report for PIRSA. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2007/000706-3. SARDI Research Report Series No. 311. 18pp.

7. PIRSA Disease Response Plan: Abalone viral ganglioneuritis 8. Knight MA & Tsolos A (2012). South Australian Wild Fisheries Information and

Statistics Report 2010/11. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2008/000804-4. SARDI Research Report Series No. 612. 57pp.

9. Mayfield, S. & Saunders, T.M. (Eds). (2008). Towards optimising the spatial scale of abalone fishery management. Final report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Project No. 2004/019. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. F2008/000082-1. SARDI Research Report Series No. 273. ISBN 978-0-7308-5386-2. 148pp.

10. Knight, M.A. and Vainickis, A.A (2011a). Interactions with Threatened, Endangered or Protected Species in South Australian Managed Fisheries –

1 Attachments can be accessed from either the PIRSA or SARDI Aquatic Sciences websites at

http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/commercial_fishing/abalone_fishery and http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/information_and_news/publications

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2007/08, 2008/09, and 2009/10. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2009/000544-1. SARDI Research Report Series No.534. 44pp

11. EconSearch (2012). Economic Indicators for the South Australian Abalone Fishery 2010/11. Report prepared for Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide South Australia.

12. PIRSA (2012) Allocation Policy: Allocation of access to fisheries resources between fishing sectors. Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide. 39pp.