Abalone aquaculture

Abalone farming occurs in many countries throughout the world, with the largest production being in China, South Korea, South Africa, Chile, and Australia. There is no single, universally acceptable, method to culture abalone, the method of choice depending on factors such as local sea conditions, availability of land or in-sea lease areas, labor and energy costs, and local environmental regulations. The farming process occurs in several distinct phases including broodstock collection and conditioning; induction of synchronous spawning; fertilization; larval culture and settlement; postlarval growth to the juvenile stage; and growth to market size. These phases are described with reference to the various ways in which they operate for different species, and in different countries. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods are discussed. The future viability of abalone farms will depend, to a large extent, on the relative costs of production in each country.