2009/714.30 Economic management guidance for Australian abalone fisheries

By Klaas Hartmann

Current Australian abalone fisheries management primarily uses biological and catch data to set total allowable catch limits (TACs). Performance targets are usually based on trends in catch rate or catch and aim to maintain these indicators within historic bounds that have prevented recruitment failure. This process typically involves little consideration of the economic performance of the fishery, either in tracking change or guiding management decisions.

No Australian abalone fisheries effectively utilise economic data in their management decision making process. South Australia has progressed the furthest by examining the historical performance of their abalone fishery with high-quality survey data, however, this is not incorporated into the decision making process for important rules like TAC setting. The level of economic information feeding into abalone fishery (business) decision making is sparse and there is ample scope for improvement in the data supplied to the people responsible for management decisions. Thus there is a need for (i) tracking of economic performance of fisheries (beyond South Australia); (ii) formal consideration of cost of fishing (through CPUE) in setting management targets for different areas; (iii) considering the effect of product price in making management decisions that affect the location and timing of catch.

This project extends the use of modeling which is underway in other CRC and FRDC projects into economic evaluation of Australian abalone fisheries. Combining biological and economic modeling has recently provided guidance to the Southern Rocklobster industry on management changes that increase the economic yield of the fishery threefold compared with the original management regime.

Project Objectives

1. Define baseline economic performance of participating abalone fisheries
2. Produce bio-economic analysis tools in abalone fisheries
3. Determine optimal management strategies using stock and economic information including seasonal / size / catch combinations
4. Promote and drive management change to capture opportunities identified at (3).
5. Define baseline economic performance of participating abalone fisheries