In a race against time, fishers brave early starts and hazardous waters for this prized snail
Updated ,first published
When the second session of Western Australia’s abalone season kicks off early on Saturday morning, Levi De Boni will be ready and waiting.
With only four sessions allowed each season in the Western Territory and each session limited to just one hour between 7am and 8am, abalone fishermen are racing against the clock to catch their quota between Busselton Pier and the mouth of the Greenough River.
But avid fisherman De Boni says knowing there are only certain days and times each year to catch the protected mollusks is part of the appeal.
“There’s always a lot of hype on an abalone day, and it’s a lot of fun to target,” he said.
“It’s a good opportunity to go out early and buy fresh food with friends and family.
“So for me, we are very lucky in WA to have such a wide variety of seafood at our fingertips, and abalone is another great option in the summer months.”
De Boni said there was a sense of excitement as the next scheduled fishing day approached and officials gave the all-clear.
“I’m looking forward to these days. I received a text message from the fishermen about 10 minutes ago and it said it would continue,” he said.
“There’s always a bit of excitement. Then you get that message saying everything is happening and all systems are working.
“I used to make this every year growing up. Me and my dad are Italian, so we always crumbled them and made little abalone cutlets and it’s really good.”
“But recently, the last time we went out, we did it like an Asian stir fry and they were really good with Asian sesame seeds on top, so I think we’ll definitely do that this time.”
There are strict regulations for the protection of abalone. In addition to limited fishing days and one-hour sessions for the Western Zone, only those with certain abalone licenses can participate; The bag limit is limited to 15 and the minimum size limit is 60 millimeters measured across the widest part of the shell.
Following Saturday’s session, the Department for Primary Industries and Regional Development announced 38 violations against people fishing without a license or exceeding the bag limit.
Another 21 warnings were issued for exceeding bag limits and catching small abalone, while 4 people had to be rescued while fishing.
De Boni, who also works as Recfishwest’s Fish and Survive safe fishing program coordinator, said it was vital to prepare for the one-hour sessions.
“So you definitely need an abalone meter and measure them before you take them off the reef, because once they come off the reef it can be difficult to reattach them,” he said.
“An abalone knife is a good option. I mean, a lot of people use screwdrivers and other things, but… when you’re bathing on the reef, it can be dangerous for you and others when there’s a lot of people.”
“So a dull abalone knife is great for lifting abalone off the reef. Also, when it comes to catch bags, mesh ones are best.
They’re a little more hydrodynamic, for lack of a better word. Some of these really big, bulky bags can catch the current and pull you along, but if you have really fine mesh bags, those are the best for moving through the water.
Strict safety measures are also implemented to protect fishermen, with changes to be made on fishing days if bad weather conditions are expected.
The Department for Primary Industries and Regional Development will also act on a recommendation from Surf Life Saving WA to close the fishing day for safety reasons.
SLSWA Lifesaving Services Manager Cam Robbins said the organization will have hundreds of lifesavers and resources at designated fishing locations.
“Whether conditions are considered suitable for the continuation of fishing, whether individuals advance or not must depend on their own abilities and the prevailing conditions in each place.” he said.
Surf Life Saving WA says there has been an increase in incidents over the past few years, with lifesaving services carrying out 118 rescues during four hours of fishing last season and 101 the year before.
De Boni said it’s important for fishermen to know their limits when it comes to risking swell noise on abalone reefs.
“Look at the situation and if you’re not a strong swimmer, make sure you fish to your abilities and fish with a buddy,” he said.
“At the end of the day, no abalone is worth risking your life for.”
