The changes made to the management of Tasmania's abalone, rock lobster and scalefish fisheries over fisheries over the last 20 years, and the resource, social and economic ramifications of those changes

Research PaperTasmania's abalone, rock lobster and scalefish fisheries have an annual beach price value of about A$120, A$64 and A$10 million respectively. Whilst small by overseas standards, Tasmania's fishing industry is an important part of this small island State's predominantly rural income, amounting to some 16% of total agricultural production. It is therefore natural that the legislative objectives for Tasmanian fisheries extend beyond those associated with resource sustainability, to encompass social and economic outcomes including benefit for Tasmanian fishers, Tasmanian coastal communities and Tasmania's population as a whole. The abalone, rock lobster and scalefish fisheries have a distinctly different history and significantly different management regimes. Whilst all management arrangements were designed to achieve sustainability of the resource and the ecosystem from which it is harvested, each also has had different social outcomes and economic outcomes. The introduction of quota management regimes in the abalone and rock lobster fisheries has achieved the principal management objectives. The primary objective of making the scalefish fishery sustainable using input controls has yet to be achieved, although current changes should more closely match the amount of allocated effort in the fishery with an ecologically sustainable catch