Accelerating Greenlip Abalone stock recovery in South Australia using release of hatchery-reared juveniles: Phase 1 - genetics risk assessment and preliminary cost-benefit analysis

There are areas of the Western Zone Abalone Fishery where Greenlip Abalone are depleting, with biomass levels well below carrying capacity and historical levels. Some areas may not recover quickly without intervention and recovery may be further impeded by climate change. Thus, the Western Zone wild-catch abalone industry is seeking to establish a commercial-scale stock release program to accelerate Greenlip Abalone stock recovery in South Australia using release of hatchery-reared juveniles. The Central Zone wild-catch abalone industry is seeking to establish a commercial-scale stock release program to re-build Greenlip Abalone stocks in depleted areas that will use hatchery-reared juveniles. This project will test release of juvenile Greenlip Abalone in the Western and Central Zones to evaluate the long-term economic viability. The data gathered from this work will assist in informing and underpinning a release policy.