Charging recreational divers £1 for a licence and imposing bag limits drew some objections but far less than recent attempts to rein in this form of fishing. I believe it demonstrated even then that those who can directly observe the underwater population are far more likely to agree to measures to conserve them. It was the decision to require abalone to be landed in the shell in line with the practice in California that upset many in the new fishery.

The small boat divers, led by Gavin Graham, were sure that carrying three times as much weight would drive them out of business. The divers recently arrived from New South Wales and quite a few others who fished the east coast objected strongly to the increase in the size limit. The impact of fishing at Bicheno was already obvious and there were now few fish above five inches to be found. Some of the processors, particularly those that canned in Melbourne and Sydney, also strongly objected. The Department called a conference for 19 February 1965 to hear the issues.

The processors were most numerous — Gilbert, Tierney and Viv O’Reilly (of SAFCOL) represented the major buyers. Also present were John Jacobs of Stanley Fish, Albert Thompson from Triabunna and Max Murchie who was flying abalone out of Port Davey. Gavin Graham represented the new Abalone Divers Association that was formed out of the protest and Keith Pennefather represented recreational divers. Dover had become the centre of the fishery and was well represented by Bern Cuthbertson, Ken Petith and Tim Jackson MHA. In addition to the senior officers of the Fisheries Division a major influence on the Government side was Angus Wilson, the Manager of the Trade Promotion Branch who had been an unflagging proponent of a bigger and better fishing industry and was the best informed person present on the demands of the Asian market.

The outcome was the Government initially agreed to issue permits for shucking at sea providing the meat weight of each abalone exceeded four ounces (114 gm) in weight. Permits were never issued when it was realised that the weight limit could be more easily applied as a condition on the abalone diving licence. Many argued that fishing on the east coast with the larger limit was uneconomical; the managers reluctantly agreed and the size returned to five inches. The biggest boost to the better management of the fishery was the decision of the conference to accept my proposal for detailed catch returns from both divers and processors. The diver return recorded on a daily basis the fishing area, catch and effort in diving hours. The present system of fishing blocks was drawn up at this time, but the boundaries of those in the north and west were somewhat arbitrary. The next year processors also agreed to report monthly on catches purchased and the names of divers supplying abalone. The combination of these returns provided the best system of monitoring catch and effort of any Australian fishery. The Conference agreed that I should assess the fishery over the next year and report back to a similar group. To better research the question of growth rates and size limits the conference agreed to close waters within half a mile of Maria Island. I was now able to commence a scientific program measuring growth rates through tagging, measuring the natural mortality rate and later conducting controlled fishing experiments to measure fishing mortality.

My satisfaction at establishing a potentially reliable and comprehensive system of data collection was leavened by disappointment that the industry had taken what I considered a backward step on shucking at sea. A good many divers and some processors who saw the loopholes created by the decision of the conference shared this view. Soon nearly all the divers shucked their catch at sea and at the end of 1965 the price reached 24 cents a pound cleaned weight - equivalent to about $1.50/kg live weight).

My assessment of the fishery for the year 1965 showed that over 40% of the catch came from the area between Dover and Southport, now known as block 14. Many divers had left the East Coast by mid year and for some time the fishery would be dependent on the Acteon area. Tasman Peninsular was still popular. The first catches from the west coast were reported in May. The monthly catch had peaked at 38 tonnes in September and the catch rates averaged over a month were as high as 100 lb./diver hour (cleaned weight). Top divers were earning £50-60 a day when the average worker earned £25 a week. Gilbert’s firm, now called South Pacific Canneries, SAFCOL and Dover Fisheries were the major buyers. Most was canned at Margate. The value of the exported product was some $200,000.

The development of the fishery began to accelerate in 1966 when 144 divers were licensed. Amongst the licensees were many who would remain in the fishery for a long time. Included in these were John Flack, Michael Garland, Bernie Hartag, Jimmy Hursey, Bernie Kennedy, Ross Leighton, Dave Mawby, Michael McGuigan, Dick Pfab, Dennis Porter, Ken Petith, Richard Roff, Peter Richardson, Curly Robbins, Val Stoberl, Brian Sexton, Alan Spence, Geoff Valentine, Robin Walker, Bob Wilson and Harry Wright. Among all those young men was one woman - Pat Richardson (later Pat Dennison). Despite this industry developing in the age of woman’s liberation I believe she was the only female to dive commercially for abalone in Tasmania. Pat created another record in 1972 when she became the only person to be allowed to suspend the renewal of her licence until after her first child was born.

The total catch reached 1000 tonnes (live weight) but the price had fallen. We met again with industry representatives in July and this time Dick Cullenwood and Viv O’Rielly had the major input. Cullenwood was already pessimistic about the future fearing that within two years some areas would have to be closed due to overfishing. There was a good deal of discussion on closing areas on a rotational basis. Gathering better data was recognised as essential and the processors agreed to add the names of divers providing abalone to their monthly returns. There was a keen interest in the possibility of farming abalone. The Division was questioned on the subject of using crayboats to carry abalone now that some divers were interested in fishing the west coast.

The consequences of allowing shucking at sea became obvious and in September the Department convened another joint meeting. Fifteen divers and processors gathered in the conference room at 10 Murray Street to consider the problem. Salting the shucked meat was being practised by some and promoted as a means of getting abalone to Victoria for processing. Cullenwood believed that abalone in salt for four days was still good enough to can. Dirk Tober also believed in salting. Angus Wilson strongly pressed for an improvement in the methods of handling as he was getting worrying reports back from Asia -‘lowering standards would be suicidal and once you damage your reputation in Asia you are in real trouble" he warned. The majority wanted all abalone landed within six hours of shucking but some of the processors resisted. The President of the PFA, Lou Shoobridge, initiated a discussion on raising the standard of fishing by banning part time divers.

Many of the same faces were around the same table four months later for another try. The Department had decided to form a standing consultative committee with industry members to assist in developing management policy; this was its first meeting. This time the Division came armed with a stronger case. The inspectors had been visiting factories and collecting data. Roy Scott opened the meeting by revealing that cleaned abalone as small as one and half ounces in weight had been found and he was proposing that all abalone should now be landed alive in the shell at the premises of a registered processor. Scott said that this would ensure better quality, conserve the resource and was in line with the practice in other countries. Problems of broken shell, the west coast, the limited carrying capacity of small boats were presented. Gavin Graham claimed that the move would cause unemployment and was not needed as ‘divers operating from small boats did not take many small abalone’. The protests failed to sway Scott and the major processors and big boat operators were prepared to accept the measure. Dick Cullenwood aired the possibility of limiting entry (Bern Cuthbertson had written to the Minister two months earlier urging the same.)

Graham continued to object and gained front page coverage in the Mercury in April but the Minister quickly replied next day that the new measures would be applied. Other divers wrote to the papers but the die was cast.

Requiring both amateur and commercial divers to carry a certified measure and use it before detaching the abalone from the rock and to land abalone alive was probably the most important aid to conserve stocks introduced by the Government. At the same time the special penalty for each undersize abalone came into force. Courts could demand $1 per illegal fish on conviction. In 1967 247 commercial licences were issued, the catch reached 1000 tons (ex shell) and the fishery was worth $750,000. In a little over three years it had become the State’s second most valuable fishery.

The fishery was heavily dependent on part time divers. The average diving time was 25 hours per diver a month. Over 100 boats were used and more than half of them were less than 5 tons displacement. Despite Gavin Graham’s concerns the small boat unit remained viable. Prices were good, only falling below 40 cents/kg live in the final two months. The average income per diver was $6,800, with full time divers earning well over $10,000 a year. One of Bern Cuthbertson’s divers made $11,500 clear of costs and left because he ‘was not earning enough’. Average earnings for men in Tasmania for that year was $3,000. The Southern zone produced 70% of the catch — 21% from block 13 and 20% from block 14. But the area of the fishery was expanding whereas only 25 blocks contributed to the total catch in 1965, this grew to 26 in 1966 and 40 in 1967. I believed that the stocks in many areas had stabilised. It had taken about 1200 diving hours (10 months) to reach this state in block 13. With smaller virgin stocks stable catch rates came after about 500 hours diving in blocks 14, 15 and 21. ‘In the light of our limited knowledge I feel it would be unwise to allow the annual catch to grow beyond 1000 tons cleaned weight in the immediate future’ I wrote to the Director.

In the light of that advice the Division summoned its consultative group together in October. I proposed to the group that we try and hold the catch at 1000 tons for 3 to 4 years. I was supported by Bern Cuthbertson who represented the Professional Fisherman’s Association. Gavin Graham and Terry Smith (Craig Mostyn) preferred a system of closed areas, particularly those like block 14 that had been very heavily fished. But the Division made it clear they had no capacity to enforce such a strategy. Also considered was reducing the numbers of divers. Following the lead of the Victorian Government there was a proposal to raise the licence fee to discourage the part time divers - $400 was suggested. A rumour was circulating that divers were planning to come from USA to ‘participate in the bonanza’. There was a lot of support to now separate the abalone and rock lobster fisheries. Finally it was decided to recommend to the Minister that the licence fee be raised and divers be required to be fully engaged in the fishing industry. The hope was that a big licence fee increase and the full time requirement would get the number of divers down to a bit over 100 and stabilise the catch.

When Dick Lane heard the rumours that part time divers were to be excluded from the fishery he decided it was time to retire. Besides he was about to be married and other things were on his mind. Abalone diving had ‘seemed like a good thing to do’ but now he would just dive for fun. Lance Barlow had no trouble in meeting the new criteria and remained in the fishery for many years. Eleven years later Dick decided to re-enter the fishery but not as a diver. In 1979 he bought an ex navy vessel as a mother ship and renamed it Walrus. He had been sport diving from the Kathleen Del Mar then owned by Jack Chesterman and convinced Jack to take command of the larger vessel. This arrangement was on the traditional basis where one third of the catch went to the boat owner. This arrangement went well until jack decided to return to his own boat. Dick then endured the sobering experience that befell a sizeable number of other who invested in fishing boats at this time. A series of skippers proved that once the vessel leaves the port the owner has no control he left the Walrus a wiser but sadder man. Dick retains his hobby of sport diving and has frequently advised others to buy a share of the fishery he helped to found but he declined to borrow and join them

The Sea Fisheries Advisory Board endorsed the strategy in October. Licences for 1968 would only be issued to those who had held a licence in the previous year, would agree to be full time and would paid the new fee (finally set at $100). So licence limitation was introduced and when all applications were considered the number of divers was 120. The catch did settle around the target for two more years.