Commercial greenlip abalone fishery off Tasmania’s North-West coast and around the Furneaux Group of islands has been closed until the end of the year.
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Fisheries Tasmania announced the closure on Wednesday in a bid to control the amount of greenlip abalone harvested in these areas.
Commercial fishing for greenlip abalone is closed in fishing blocks 48 (except 48A), 49 and 5 and down Tasmania’s West Coast to blocks 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 between November 29 and December 31, inclusive.
Greenlip abalone commercial fishery has been closed in King Island waters since September 4 and off the North-East Coast since May 10, with both areas closed until the end of the year.
The Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment department website closes fishery blocks to reduce overfishing.
This action is consistent with standard abalone fishery management processes to provide for the long term sustainability of the fishery, a department spokesperson said.
“This government is committed to supporting Tasmania’s abalone fisheries and providing access for commercial and recreational fishers, while responsibly managing the resource for long-term sustainability,” the spokesperson said.
“The closure of the Furneaux/North-West parts of the commercial greenlip abalone fishery to commercial fishing is in response to the catches of greenlip abalone in these areas reaching the determined catch cap for this part of the fishery.”