19 May 2026
Date of effect: 24 April 2026
Supersedes: Industry Advice Notice 2026-04
Purpose
To notify export registered establishments and exporters sourcing abalone from Tasmania, of sourcing/harvesting restrictions.
Change to catch zone status for Tasmanian abalone (Haliotis spp.) for export
- Catch zones 24A, 24B and 24C are open for sourcing/ harvesting by the Tasmanian Government Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) from 24 April 2026.
- Catch zones 20A and 20B are closed for sourcing/ harvesting by the Tasmanian Government Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) from 12 May 2026.
Exporters are advised to check additional fisheries notices that may also apply for the seasonal opening and closing of catch zones on Tasmania's Public Notices page.
The export of live, chilled and frozen abalone with or without viscera, and the export of viscera and viscera products and canned products are permitted from open areas (providing blocks are open in accordance with fisheries regulations) except from the blocks listed and marked as 'No' in the Catch zone status table below.
No product from closed catch zones in the table below can be supplied to the export chain. Catch zones that are closed, are marked as 'No' and exports are not permitted.
Export status| Block | Export of live, chilled and frozen—with viscera | Export of chilled and frozen—without viscera | Export of canned—without viscera | Export of viscera and viscera products |
|---|
| 14C | No | No | No | No |
| 15 | No | No | No | No |
| 16A | No | No | No | No |
| 16B | No | No | No | No |
| 16C | No | No | No | No |
| 16D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20A | No | No | No | No |
| 20B | No | No | No | No |
| 22A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 22B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 22C | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 23A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 23B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24C | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 26A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 26B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 26C | No | No | No | No |
| 26D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27C | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 28A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 28B | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 30A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Direction to export registered establishments and exporters
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is issuing this direction in writing under Section 305 of the Export Control Act 2020.
To support the exports of abalone sourced from Tasmania you must:
- Record the block numbers where abalone have been sourced on Declarations of Compliance, to demonstrate traceability.
- Record an additional declaration on the transfer certificate: 'The abalone or abalone products in this consignment were not sourced from an area affected by biotoxins.'
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.
Further information
Contact dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.auif you have any queries about abalone export.
Contact the NRE Marine Resources section for queries about the commercial abalone fishery in Tasmania.?