New Research Project into abalone drought
Note: This content is stored on an archive website and may not be current or accurate. Contact us to clarify.
NSW Fisheries Director General, Steve Dunn today welcomed this week's announcement that the Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC) is supporting a research proposal to identify the reasons behind a dramatic decline in abalone numbers off the NSW coast.
"NSW Fisheries and the abalone industry jointly submitted a research proposal to the FRDC to look at the reasons behind the decline in abalone," said Mr Dunn.
"We know that a parasite called Perkinsus has had a devastating effect on abalone stocks around Terrigal, Sydney, Kiama and Port Stephens," Mr Dunn said
"In recent years, in some areas, the impact of Perkinsus has caused abalone populations to drop to just five per cent of their former size."
The go ahead from the FRDC will allow research to begin into the impact of factors such as el Nino/ La Nina events, water quality, temperature, and whether other oceanographic changes have made the abalone more vulnerable to the Perkinsus parasite.
"Poaching and El Nino may also be factors in declining abalone stock."
"It is important for us to understand the underlying reasons behind this dramatic decline because the commercial abalone fishery is one of the most valuable fisheries in NSW. The annual harvest of blacklip abalone is worth more than $8.7 million at the first point of sale," said Mr Dunn.
Lobsters have also suffered a significant decline in numbers due to a fall in the breeding stock of larger lobsters on which the entire fishery depends.
Several projects are underway to monitor the stock. A new survey will begin in July 2004 to monitor the size of lobsters in catches and so increase our understanding of pressures on the all-important spawning stock.
New catch limits for abalone and lobsters, to be announced later this month, will be significantly reduced due to ongoing low stock assessments.
"The decline in both these stocks is the equivalent to a drought in the sea for these two species and must be arrested," Mr Dunn said.
Media inquiries: Nick Bleszynski (02) 8437 4915 or 0403 931 291.