Environment Portfolio CommitteeEnvironment Portfolio Committee

André ShareAndré ShareChief Director: Marine Resource ManagementChief Director: Marine Resource Management 09 March 2010

Abalone FisheryAbalone Fishery

• Abalone fishery – single sp. – Haliotis midae

• Fishery extends over 580km from Cape Columbine (near St Helena Bay) to Quoin Point (near Gansbaai).

Western Cape - Abalone Fishery

• Slow growing - sexual maturity: 7yrs. - minimum legal size:8-9 yrs. (114mm shell breadth).

• High value species.

• 302 Right Holders. Zone A: 27 Zone B: 34 Zone C: 167 Zone D: 18 Zone E: 47 Zone F: 0 Zone G: 9

• Divers: 262.

• Legal Entities: 42. (Close Corporations)

Western Cape - Abalone Fishery

• Abalone: severely depleted. - suspension of wild harvesting (closed).

Annual Landings of abalone (in tons) forthe commercial and recreational sectors

Fishery Independent Surveys show decline in all major fishing zones (number of abalone per 60m2 transect)

Abalone Fishery Stock in Decline

Ecosystem Effects• Incursion of rock lobster. • Relationship between abalone, sea urchins and

rock lobsters.

Causes

Poaching (Illegal harvesting)• Took off in the early 1990’s.

• More than 60% of the poached abalone are below the minimum legal size.

• Abalone fishery closed on 1 February 2008 and diving ban imposed due to:– Unsustainable fishery

• Poaching rife/organised crime.• Ecological factor (eg. WCRL migration).• Sparsely populated.

– Closed to protect remaining viable areas.

Western Cape - Abalone Fishery

Dive Ban AreasCape & Quoin Point Areas

Bird Island Area (Eastern Cape)Dive Ban Areas

Eastern Cape• 25% of coastline along which abalone considered to be present is protected by MPA restricted zones and closed areas. • No previous commercial activity.

• Experimental fishery (Hamburg): (1999-2001).

Eastern Cape

• Lack of knowledge – status of resource / paucity of data.

• Poaching rife: no regard for size limits.

• >90% poached abalone below MLS (114mm).

Eastern Cape• Possible catches: - 7 areas (non reserves): 1.5 ton per area. - Coastline length: 409km.

• Potential Areas: - Groot River to Kabeljous River. - Maitlands River to Cape Recife. - Canon Rocks to Great Fish River. - Buffalo River to Kei River. - Chalumna River to Buffalo River. - Great Fish River to Chalumna River. - Great Kei River to Dwesa Cwebe Reserve.

Eastern Cape• Possible catches: - 7 areas (non reserves). - Coastline length: 409km.

• Potential Areas: - Groot River to Kabeljous River. - Maitlands River to Cape Recife. - Canon Rocks to Great Fish River. - Buffalo River to Kei River. - Chalumna River to Buffalo River. - Great Fish River to Chalumna River. - Great Kei River to Dwesa Cwebe Reserve.

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