Fisheries officers monitor Southern Zone abalone season

The annual Southern Zone recreational abalone fishing season, between Busselton Jetty and the South Australian Border opened on the 1st October and will continue for more than seven months, up to and including 15 May (2012).

Department of Fisheries Compliance Manager South, Steve Embling said it was yet to be seen whether the total closure to recreational abalone fishing from Moore River to the Northern Territory border would bring a larger number of fishers south this season.

“It is timely that we remind all fishers, who take advantage of the Southern Zone season to collect abalone, that they will need to have an abalone fishing licence and observe the rules in place to ensure the sustainability of WA’s abalone fisheries,” Mr Embling said.

“Since 1 July last year (2010) there have been nine abalone fishing-related prosecutions and more than 60 infringements recorded and Fisheries and Marine Officers will again be out and about checking fishing activity.

“We find the majority of abalone fishers do the right thing, but for those who don’t it can be a costly mistake. Many of the prosecutions since July last year attracted fines between $2,000 and $3,000 and there was one case where the total penalty was around $12,500.”

Mr Embling said greenlip and brownlip abalone primarily occurred off the southern coastline, preferring limestone or granite habitat in waters deeper than five metres, while Roe’s abalone, which can be collected without diving, inhabited reef platforms along the South and West coasts.

“Depending on the species, abalone take between three and six years to reach maturity,” he said.

“It is very important fishers do not disturb undersize abalone and we recommend that they also check the bag, boat possession and size limits and carry a gauge to measure the shell before they take an abalone off a reef.

“In addition, I urge people not to take risks while diving for, or collecting, abalone and to keep a close eye on the weather and swells on the Southern and South West coasts.”