Tasmania’s abalone industry is tapping into growing Chinese demand for premium Tasmanian produce and is fast becoming one of our most iconic exports.
The Chinese have discovered what Tasmanians have always known, that we have some of the best seafood in the world, especially abalone.
In 2016, abalone exports to China doubled and with the Chinese New Year just weeks away (28 January) and demand rising, the industry’s strong momentum is continuing.
The free trade agreement that Australia struck with China recently has also provided a massive boost, with Chinese tariffs on abalone imports dropping from 14 per cent two years ago, to 3.5 per cent this year. The abalone import tariff will be abolished all together next year.
With an export value of about $100 million a year, the industry generates economic activity of around $300 million a year in Tasmania. Importantly, the industry sustains hundreds of jobs right across the State, especially in regional areas, and each year the industry pays out well over $30 million in wages to Tasmanians.
In particular, Tasmanian Seafoods has been growing its workforce at both its Margate and Smithton facilities, with the total wages paid increasing 25 per cent over the last four years and it was great to discuss Tasmanian Seafoods success at its Margate facility today.
And while the abalone industry, like a number of our primary industries, will face challenges from time to time, we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure we have the most sustainable industries that showcase Tasmania to the rest of the world.
We are working with the Tasmanian Abalone Council to make sure that the industry continues to be one of our best performing export industries for generations to come.