*

Of eight Greenlip Abalone stocks defined by management area, three are undefined (SA Southern Zone, VIC Central Zone, VIC Western Zone), three are depleting (TAS Greenlip Abalone Fishery, SA Central Zone and SA Western Zone), one is depleted (WA Area 3 Fishery), and one is recovering (WA Area 2 Fishery).

Greenlip Abalone is distributed across southern mainland Australia and northern Tasmania. The biological stock structure of Greenlip Abalone has recently been examined [Mayfield et al. 2014, Miller et al. 2014]. Genetic evidence has confirmed that Greenlip Abalone comprise numerous independent biological stocks, but at a spatially broader scale than the biological stock structure evident for Blacklip Abalone [Miller et al. 2009, Mayfield et al. 2014, Miller et al. 2014]. There are many biological stocks across Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. Given the large number of biological stocks, it is not practical to assess each separately, and they are neither fished nor managed at that separate biological stock level.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the management unit level—South Australia Central Zone Fishery, South Australia Southern Zone Fishery and South Australia Western Zone Fishery (South Australia); Tasmania Greenlip Abalone Fishery (Tasmania); Victoria Central Zone Fishery, Victoria Western Zone Fishery (Victoria), Western Australia Area 2 Fishery, Western Australia Area 3 Fishery (Western Australia).

Victoria Central Zone Fishery

Greenlip Abalone comprises a small (1%) component of the total commercial abalone catch in the Victoria Central Zone Fishery (VCZF) management unit. The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) has remained at 3.4 t since 2009 with catches typically slightly below the TACC, averaging 3 t since 2008 [Dixon et al. 2023]. While recent catches are lower than historical catch estimates (up to 100 t per year in the 1960s–70s), it is likely that some fishers choose not to take or trade their catch allocation, in part because fishing for Greenlip Abalone in the Victoria Central Zone Fishery management unit is less profitable than fishing for Blacklip Abalone, which accounts for most of the total catch. The low current catch and very high legal minimum lengths of 145 mm and 150 mm west and east of Point Nepean, respectively, limit the impact of fishing on the stock and ensure that a large proportion of Greenlip Abalone are protected from fishing for a number of years after they have attained maturity.

The low catches and resulting limited data on Greenlip Abalone in the mixed species VCZF management unit makes catch per unit effort (CPUE) unreliable for this species, and prevents direct (or by proxy) assessment of current stock size or fishing pressure. In addition, there is little information about recruitment, no fishery-independent information during the past decade and the Victorian Wild Harvest Abalone Fishery Management Plan [Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources 2014] does not identify a performance indicator or a reference point below which the fishery would be defined as being depleting or depleted. Consequently, there is insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of this stock.

Based on the evidence provided above, the Victoria Central Zone Fishery management unit is classified as an 

undefined stock.

Victoria Western Zone Fishery

Greenlip Abalone comprises a small (generally less than 2%) component of the total commercial abalone catch in the Victoria Western Zone Fishery (VWZF) management unit, with 1.6 t landed in 2021/22 [WADA, 2023]. The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) is currently 1.8 t. This TACC is low relative to previous years when Greenlip Abalone TACCs were increased to compensate for reduced Blacklip Abalone catches due to the occurrence of abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) and in response to a population survey of Greenlip Abalone on Minerva and Hospital reefs [Prince 2008]. Increased catches under the increased TACC were not sustained, and the TACC was set at zero from 2014 [Victorian Government 2013] before increasing to around, or below, 2 t. Since then, catches have been 0.5–2 t and have predominantly come from further offshore on Julia Bank, away from the areas that supported the higher catch in the past. This shift offshore has seen catch per unit effort (CPUE) and sizes increase [WADA 2023], likely because this facilitated access to historically unfished, or lightly fished, stocks. 

Greenlip Abalone catch rates have varied considerably from around 30 to greater than 60 kg/hr annually [WADA, 2023]. However, recent low catches and resulting limited data on Greenlip Abalone in the Victoria Western Zone Fishery management unit makes CPUE difficult to interpret, particularly because there have been large shifts in areas fished and LML [WADA, 2023]. In addition, there is little information about recruitment, no fishery-independent information during the past decade and the Victorian Wild Harvest Abalone Fishery Management Plan [Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources 2014] does not identify a performance indicator or a reference point below which the fishery would be defined as depleting or depleted. Consequently, there is insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of this stock.

Based on the evidence provided above, the Victoria Western Zone Fishery management unit is classified as an 

undefined stock.

Greenlip Abalone biology [Burnell et al. 2016, Haddon and Mundy 2016, Hart et al. 2017]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Greenlip Abalone

Victoria – Indigenous (Management Methods) A person who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is exempt from the need to obtain a Victorian recreational fishing licence, provided they comply with all other rules that apply to recreational fishers, including rules on equipment, catch limits, size limits and restricted areas. Traditional (non-commercial) fishing activities that are carried out by members of a traditional owner group entity under an agreement pursuant to Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 are also exempt from the need to hold a recreational fishing licence, subject to any conditions outlined in the agreement. Native title holders are also exempt from the need to obtain a recreational fishing licence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

Commonwealth – Indigenous (Management Methods) Subject to the defence that applies under Section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), and the exemption from a requirement to hold a recreational fishing licence, the non-commercial take by Indigenous fishers is covered by the same arrangements as that for recreational fishing.

Western Australia - Recreational (Catch Volume) [Smallwood et al. 2023]

Commercial catch of Greenlip Abalone - note confidential catch not shown.

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