Abalone Harvest Strategy

The Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy guides management of the fishery to ensure abalone is sustainably harvested, and provides ongoing economic, social and cultural benefits to Tasmanian communities for generations to come. 

The Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy identifies objectives for fisheries management and seeks to achieve those objectives through monitoring of fishery performance, with performance indicators linked to management actions.

The Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy aims to:

  • ensure abalone are sustainably harvested, including maintaining or rebuilding stocks to target levels and avoiding localised depletion;
  • ensure use of abalone resources provide appropriate benefits to the community;
  • minimise harmful ecosystem impacts; and
  • practice good governance​​​

 Tasmanian ​Abalone Harvest Strategy 2025

​​​Application

The Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy applies to commercial and non-commercial fishing in state waters relating to the take of Blacklip Abalone (Haliotis rubra) or Greenlip Abalone (Haliotis laevigata).

The commercial sector includes Aboriginal people engaged in commercial fishing activities. The non-commercial sector includes Aboriginal cultural fishing, recreational fishing and charter fishing activities.

The harvest strategy does not apply to the abalone aquaculture industry.​​

Background

The first Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy was developed and released in 2018, following public consultation and advice from the Abalone Fishery Advisory Committee (AbFAC) and the Recreational Fishery Advisory Committee (RecFAC).


While the Strategy was working well to manage the fishery, an independent review was conducted by CSIRO in 2021. Twenty recommendations were made for the revised 2025 Strategy. Most of these were of a technical nature, and can be viewed here.​

 Review of the Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy 2018 

​A Technical Reference Group (TRG) was formed in July 2022 to review the CSIRO report.​

 Technical Reference Group - Response to the 2021 review of the Abalone Harvest Strategy

Public Consultation on the updated Harvest Strategy occurred in 2024, and the new Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy was released July 2025.

​Public consultation

Feedback on the draft strategy was sought from all stakeholders and interested parties during 2024.

List of submissions

​Submission Number
​Name/Organisation​Date Received
1 Jane Thiele11/09/2024
2 Tony Griggs11/09/2024
3 Confidential11/09/2024
4 Derek Whittle11/09/2024
5 Caleb Oshannessey11/09/2024
6 Matt Dillon12/09/2024
7 John Nichols
20/09/2024
8 David Eyles
26/09/2024
9 Tim Rogers
9/10/2024
10 Mal Steane10/10/2024
11 John Stanfield10/10/2024
12 Andrew Dillon11/10/2024
13 Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre 11/10/2024
14 Tasmanian Abalone Council10/10/2024
15 Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing29/10/2024
16 Darvin Hansen (via Julian Amos)6/11/2024
17 Malcolm Haddon12/11/2024
18 Tasmnaian Abalone Council29/11/2024



Background

The first Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy was developed and released in 2018, following public consultation and advice from the Abalone Fishery Advisory Committee (AbFAC) and the Recreational Fishery Advisory Committee (RecFAC).


While the Strategy was working well to manage the fishery, an independent review was conducted by CSIRO in 2021. Twenty recommendations were made for the revised 2025 Strategy. Most of these were of a technical nature, and can be viewed here.​

 Review of the Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy 2018 

​A Technical Reference Group (TRG) was formed in July 2022 to review the CSIRO report.​

Public Consultation on the updated Harvest Strategy occurred in 2024, and the new Tasmanian Abalone Harvest Strategy was released June 2025.


    Contact

    Harvest Strategy Enquiries
    Phone: 1300 720 647

    Hotline

    Fishwatch Report illegal fishing

    0427 655 557

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    Contact us

    Recreational Fishing

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    Hobart TAS 7000

    Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

    Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries Licensing

    Level 1, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: fisheries.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au