The table below displays the annual Blacklip TACC for each zone since 2001.
The years between 1988 (when quotas were first introduced), and 2003 saw a long period of constant, stable and sustainable catches.

View Graphical Illustration

Despite Industry’s willingness to embrace finer scale Spatial Management, the adoption of increased voluntary size limits and reduced quotas, catches of the previous 15 or more years could not be maintained.

The Impact of Marine Parks on Sustainable Abalone Fishing

The introduction of the Marine Parks saw the Central Zone abalone harvester's loose access to between 12 and 16% of the reef area across which they traditionally spread their catching effort.

Previously, rotation and spreading of effort among reefs ensured sustainable catches for future years and was seen as the hallmark of a responsible and successful industry. This voluntary rotation of fishing enabled the Industry to rest areas in the same manner as farmers rotate paddocks for crops and grazing. Removal of fishing grounds (through the implementation of Marine Parks), without a corresponding drop in TACC, meant a cessation of these sustainable self-management practices as fishing effort was dispersed to smaller areas. This impact of marine parks continues to affect the industry today.

Sustainability of the abalone fisheries was reliant on capacity to spread and distribute fishing activity, and effort optimally across the breadth of the Quota Zone, in conjunction with effective enforcement and compliance operations on illegal operators. The success of these sustainable practices was indicated by the stable harvest of a Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) of 700 tons for 14 years in the Central Zone following the implementation of quota in 1988.

Since the introduction of Marine Parks, the abalone industry in the Central Zone has lost approximately 300 tonnes of production. (wet weight)

Similar patterns have also reflected in the Western Abalone Zone with reductions of TACC due to loss of 5% to 7% harvesting area and the Eastern Zone losing 8% to 11% of harvesting area to the Marine Parks have seen stifled growth and the reduction in the ability to spread effort. I suspect we are yet to see the full impacts of the Parks in this zone.

Routine and regular fishing pressure on reduced fishing areas has led to a gradual decline in stock abundance levels on many of Victoria’s inshore reefs and prompted Industry to request unprecedented and substantial reductions of the 2008/9 TAC.