The closure banning the use of abalone gut as bait or burley, either recreationally or commercially, for the taking of any fish in all waters of NSW was renewed in December 2009 for a further five years (until December 2014). 

More information: Fishing closure - Prohibition on the taking of fish using abalone viscera as bait (27 kb, PDF)

Why has this closure been introduced?

This closure has been declared to protect abalone stocks from a virus known as abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG).  This is because:

• The use of abalone gut as bait carries a high risk of introducing AVG into NSW abalone populations.
• Research has shown that the AVG virus can survive freezing to -80ºC, and it is highly unlikely that it will be killed by the harvesting and storage process.
• AVG can spread through the water column so infected bait does not need to come into direct contact with live abalone for the virus to be transferred.
• If AVG is introduced into NSW, it is likely that the impacts would be devastating to the NSW abalone population.

What is AVG?

AVG is a viral disease which affects the nervous system of abalone. It causes curling of the foot, swelling of the mouth, weakness and death. The disease was first detected in Victoria in 2005 and has spread from where it was first detected in the coastal waters of south west Victoria. AVG has also been detected in abalone processing facilities in Tasmania, most recently in two separate processors in November 2011. It affects both blacklip and greenlip abalone and hybrids of the two. AVG has no known effects on human health.

For further information on AVG

• Victoria Department of Primary Industries Website (www.dpi.vic.gov.au)
  
• Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment Website (www.dpiw.tas.gov.au)
  

The impacts if AVG were to enter NSW

If AVG was introduced into the NSW population of abalone, extensive losses would be expected. AVG has caused massive losses of abalone in Victoria, with up to 95% mortality in certain areas. NSW populations of abalone are already affected by stock decline and another disease, Perkinsus.

Alternative baits

Several alternative baits are available to fish for the species normally targeted with abalone gut. These include prawns, pipis, green weed, cunjevoi, crabs and bread.

Please respect the closure

By respecting the ban on taking fish with abalone gut, fishers will be helping protect abalone stocks for future generations.

What else is NSW DPI doing?

In addition to this closure, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed for commercial abalone divers to promote best practice and hygiene protocols. This is to reduce the risk of aquatic disease outbreaks such as AVG and Perkinsus.

• Standard operating procedures: decontamination for commercial abalone divers
  

Further SOPs will be developed as required in consultation with other states and industry. 

Further information

For further information please contact the Aquatic Biosecurity and Risk Management Unit on (02) 4982 1232 or email aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.gov.au