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Abalone (green-lip and black-lip)
(Haliotis laevigata) & (Haliotis rubra)
Appearance
Abalone are a large ear-shaped marine snail. The outer edge of the 'foot' of these two species of abalone has a distinct green or black colour, giving them their names. They grow up to 22cm in size, but are more commonly 11-15cm. Greenlip abalone have a relatively smooth shell, while blacklip abalone shells have a rough, wrinkled appearance.
Distribution & Life Cycle
Both species of abalone are found around the southern coast of Australia, from south-west Western Australia to southern Victoria. Blacklip abalone are also found on the south-east coast, up to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. Abalone spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water. The larvae are free-swimming, later settling among rocks to develop to maturity at about 6 years of age. Abalone do not attach to rocks permanently, and are quite mobile. They mainly feed on drift- and rock- algae, and the blacklip variety tends to only move out from cover at night to feed. Their main natural predators are crabs, starfish, lobsters, and stingrays.
Fishing/Farming in the Region
Abalone are mainly caught by divers using 'hookah' gear (with air supplied from the surface), while land-based culture from artificially-propagated seedstock is underway near Port Lincoln. The majority of the abalone is exported to Asian markets.
References
Kailola, P.; Williams, M.J.; Stewart, P.C.; Reichelt, R.E.; McNee, A.; Grieve, C. 1993,
Australian Fisheries Resources
Bureau of Resource Sciences, Dept. of Primary Industries and Energy, and Fisheries
Resource and Development Corporation, Canberra Australia.
South Australian Research and Development Institute Top of page |
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