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The Wavy Periwinkle is a moderate-sized marine shellfish found in shallow temperate waters of southern and eastern Australia. Stock status is sustainable in TAS, undefined in SA and VIC, and negligible in NSW.

The Wavy Periwinkle, Lunella undulata, is a moderately sized marine gastropod found on exposed reef and boulder habitat in shallow temperate waters (0–20 m) of southern and eastern Australia. They grow to a maximum length of around 65 mm and are distributed from Hopetoun, Western Australia to Coolangatta, Queensland, and around Tasmania [Edgar 2012]. Wavy Periwinkles form large aggregations in shallow coastal waters. The Wavy Periwinkle has a protracted spawning period from October to May and may undergo incomplete spawning (retain unshed eggs until the next spawning event) [Underwood 1974; Keane et al. 2014]. They have short-term lecithotrophic larvae (planktonic larvae which live off the yolk supplied by the egg), and it is assumed that the larval duration is about five days, similar to other species within the taxon [Underwood 1974]. Stock structure is unknown, however a study of genetic diversity across southern Australia is underway.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

Victoria

Historically catches were low in this jurisdiction and there was a general lack of targeted fishing until 2018 when the fishery was split into three zones and three General (Commercial) Permits were allocated to each. The permits allow several other gastropod species to be taken, depending upon the zone. The number of permits, renewable annually, has been held constant, but some operators have changed between years with reallocation of inactive permits. Each permit has a catch cap of 5 t per annum, a minimum annual effort requirement of 10 days, and a 30 mm minimum shell size limit applies throughout the State.

Confidentiality provisions preclude full disclosure of catches for the period 2000–2017 but catches since then have generally been small (5–7 t) until 2021–22 when the catch almost doubled to 13 t (VFA 2022). Most of the Wavy Periwinkle taken during the past 5 years were taken from the Western Zone accounting for 84% of the statewide aggregate catch. Four divers operating in different years on the three permits allocated for the Zone fished for a cumulative 285 days during 2018 to 2021–22, with two of these divers who fished in tandem responsible for 92% of this effort. The remainder of the catch in the Western Zone during 39 fishing days was retained by a single Southern Rock Lobster fisher taking periwinkles which had attached to pots. The balance of the Statewide catch during the past 5 years was taken by 3 permit holders operating in each of the Central and Eastern zones. 

Catch rates varied considerably among the 9 permit holders from 2–292 kg/day, but the most prolific divers were remarkably consistent over the 5-year period each averaging around 125 kg/day. The relationship between catch rate and biomass is unknown and interpretation may be confounded when effort is compromised by concurrently taking of other gastropod species. 

Recreational catch is unknown and there is no size limit, but daily bag limits of 5 litres whole or 1 litre shucked apply, and Wavy Periwinkle cannot be taken from waters shallower than 2 m.

There’s been no mapping of the distribution or surveys of abundance of Wavy Periwinkle in Victoria since the permits were introduced five years ago and the catch and effort data are insufficient to support an assessment of the stocks. Nevertheless, Wavy Periwinkle are widely distributed among nearshore reefs throughout Victoria and appear to be abundant. The stock has not previously been identified as overfished, and catches are low when compared with other exploited invertebrates inhabiting similar reef habits e.g., abalone and urchins.

There is no published assessment of this species, and there are no data available to estimate biomass or exploitation rates. In addition, there is no knowledge on recruitment or harvestable biomass, and there are no defined target or limit reference levels. This prevents assessment of current stock size or fishing pressure. Consequently, there is insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of this stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Wavy Periwinkles in Victoria is classified as an undefined stock.

Wavy Periwinkle biology [Keane et al. 2014]

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

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.

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