Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) was first observed causing unprecedented, catastrophic mortality of abalone in western Victoria during May 2006, and has continued to spread. As a direct consequence, there has already been large reductions in TAC with consequent reductions in the GVP of the Industry and its profitability. Further, the AVG-related mortality has led to great uncertainty about the status of the abalone populations (e.g. depletion) and their future productive ability (e.g. catch). Areas where populations have been affected by AVG, including adjacent to Port Fairy, have now been closed to fishing for periods approaching three years, and as a result, little or no information is available about abalone populations in many of these areas. What information that is available has come from costly fishery-independent surveys completed by VIC DPI in a limited number of areas, and anecdotal information from Industry divers at a finer-scale for a broader selection of areas.

There is now a strong need to develop cost effective and reliable surveys of the AVG-affected abalone populations, to provide information and support decisions about possible re-opening and conservative management. Industry-based surveys and structured fishing have the potential to provide a cost-effective and reliable method of collecting more, finer-scale information about the status and productivity of populations, and to also allow an audit of the resource to enable Industry to fish-to-market within the agreed conservative management guidelines. Both these aims will influence the future profitability of the Industry. Further, finer-scale and more representative information about the stocks, that is possible through the use of more cost-efficient Industry-based surveys, will also be fundamental to better assessment and management of the populations to ensure sustainability for all stakeholders.