Australian abalone fisheries face similar threats to the sustainability, marketability of stocks and products. Australia is in an enviable position with a pristine marine environment, and provides the lion's share of the world supply of greenlip and blacklip abalone (H. laevegata & H. rubra). It is evident that abalone producing States do not communicate often or closely enough to maximise the benefits of the extra efforts each State is doing in terms of R&D, stock enhancement, marketing and product labelling. Also, it is evident that there are very few industry driven conventions or conferences around Australia and the world. This idea or concept for a National Forum within which to share ideas and results from various endeavours became a high priority for the Australian abalone industry which is very much supported by other abalone producing States. The convention will address the following needs:
• The need for abalone fisheries to address key issues such as marketing, industry development, product development and labelling.
• The need for closer and more extensive communication and networking with other abalone fishery participants.
• The need for participants to share information, data and methodologies adopted in R&D programs and compliance strategies.
• The need to identify areas of R&D that have proved successful and to imitate that success.
• To update the national strategic plan addressing common issues.

This has been covered in both the Background and Consultation. The benefits of including social science and economic information in fisheries management are not well recognised. The bringing together on one agenda – at the one time and one place – of the ecological, economic, and sociological aspects simply does not occur – with one or two notable exceptions.

One reason for this is that fisheries managers take the view that it is simply too difficult to do because of the lack of appropriate scale data and its application. On the other hand, fisheries managers know that what is missing is important.

Written-up in easy-to-read English, with informative illustrations, the proposed “How To Guide” will be an invaluable tool for to-day’s managers and source for the training of the next generation.