Abalone Season begins today for recreational fishers in the Southern abalone zone.
The Southern abalone zone is located from the Busselton Jetty to the South Australian border. The season runs till 15th May, 2008 and fishing can take lace at all hours. Abalone fishers should take note of the new bag and size limits this season, these are listed below.
Every year approximately 20,000 recreational abalone licences are taken up and around 20 and 40 tonnes of Roe's abalone and about 10 tonnes of greenlip and brownlip abalone combined are taken.
For further information go to the Department of Fisheries website (link)
Limits
New abalone limits were have been implemented by the Department of Fisheries for the 2007/08 season.
Bag Limit
- Roe's Abalone - 20 per fisher per day - min size 60mm
- Greenlip/Brownlip Abalone - 5 per fisher per day - min size 140mm
Possession Limit
A possession limit of 20 Roe’s and 10 greenlip/brownlip abalone (combined) applies everywhere except in your permanent place of residence. The maximum number of abalone that a person may have at their permanent place of residence is:
- 80 Roe’s abalone
- 20 greenlip/brownlip abalone
Boat Limit
A maximum of 5 greenlip/brownlip abalone per fisher per day (or 10 where there are 2 or more fishers) may be carried, or held, aboard a vessel.