VADA Submissions and Responses

2009-10 CZ Blacklip Abalone TAC Submission

On the 27th of November, 2008 a spatially detailed assessment and recommendations were undertaken on a reef code by reef code basis. Apart from active divers´ experience and direct observations, additional information that formed part of the individual assessments included;

• Central Zone Reef Reporting book (2007-2008), which includes;
  • Catch History from 1978
  • 5-year Cumulative Catch trends
  • Fishery Independent Abundance Surveys
  • Fishery Independent Length Frequency
  • Commercial Catch Length Frequency
• Fishweb MOU and Catch Information Including the;
  • Victorian Abalone Fishery Management Plan Catch Triggers
  • Actual catch amounts since 2001
• Draft Central Zone MOU (08/09)
• Central Zone Length of First Maturity (LOFM) studies, 2001.
• Victorian Central Zone Blacklip Abalone Total Allowable Catch Submission for the 2009 ­ 2010 Fishing Season
• Victorian Abalone Fishery Management Plan 2002 (VAFMP)
• Past divers´ experience, observations.....

The full recommendations and Submission can be found here;
PDF (390 KB) or Save to Disk (360 KB)

2008-09 CZ Blacklip Abalone TAC Submission

The Victorian Abalone Divers Association Inc. (VADA) and its members are committed to ensuring sustainable harvesting of abalone from all Victorian waters.
This incorporates further developing principles for spatial management and practical application of those principles within a partnership management approach.

In January 2008, VADA conducted a Resource Development Workshop to assess the condition of blacklip and greenlip abalone resources within the Central Abalone Zone (CZ) of Victoria.
This meeting was well attended by a large number of stakeholders, including divers, quota owners, and researchers.

A further Special General Meeting of CZ abalone stakeholders was held in February 2008.
This Meeting overwhelmingly accepted recommendations that;

- The Blacklip abalone TACC for the 2008-09 season, should be set at the ideal sustainable amount as assessed and recommended by Resource Development Workshop in January.
- Harvesting of stunted Blacklip abalone in areas around Cape Liptrap should be undertaken by Permit.

The full recommendations and Submission can be found here;
PDF (7.81 MB) or Save to Disk (7.74 MB)

In November, 2006 the Victorian Abalone Divers Association Inc. (VADA) conducted surveys of Greenlip abalone stocks, along sections of the Victorian Abalone Central Zone. These surveys covered extensive areas of recognised greenlip habitat, and involved timed collections, collection of length frequency information as well as length of first maturity data of the greenlip abalone at each location. Included in this process photographic evidence of the habitat that the abalone are in.

The survey was undertaken in order to complete the requirements of the Victorian Abalone Fishery Management Plan which in an agreement between the industry and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) agreed to set the greenlip Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) at zero while the DPI undertook research into the greenlip stocks bi annually.

What became obvious during the collection of the information was that the legal minimum length of 130 mm was not appropriate to adequately protect the greenlip abalone from over exploitation .....

The full recommendations and Submission can be found here;
PDF (227 KB) or Save to Disk (210 KB)

2008-09 CZ Greenlip Abalone TAC Submission

The Victorian Abalone Divers Association Inc. (VADA) conducted surveys of greenlip abalone stocks, along sections of the Victorian Abalone Central Zone.
These surveys covered extensive areas of recognised greenlip habitat, and involved timed collections, compilation of length frequency information as well as length of first maturity data at each location.
Included in this process is photographic evidence of greenlip abalone in their natural habitat.

What became obvious during the collection of the information was that the current legal minimum length of 130 mm is inappropriate to adequately protect the greenlip abalone from over exploitation.

VADA believes that there is now sufficient information to set a sustainable TACC for greenlip abalone and that this will also ensure Industry is able to further invest in research of greenlip abalone stocks.
VADA is recommending the reinstatement of commercial harvesting of Greenlip Abalone for the 2008-2009 fishing season in the Central Zone of Victoria.

Read VADA's full Submission, outlining sample locations, catch rates, depths, average sizes etc. PDF (5.87 MB) or Save to Disk (5.43 MB)