Blacklip Abalone
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haliotis rubra |
| Common Name | Blacklip Abalone |
| Distribution | Endemic to southern Australia, ranging from New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, across to Western Australia. |
| Habitat | Shallow coastal waters on rough, wave-exposed rocky reefs, occupying caves, crevices, and vertical rock faces. |
| Depth Range | 0 to 40 metres (most abundant between 5 and 15 metres). |
| Average Size | 11 to 13 centimetres. |
| Maximum Size | 22 centimetres. |
| Commercial Status | Highly Commercial / Major Export. |
| Primary Production | Wild fisheries and aquaculture |
| Key Characteristics | This large species is distinguished by its distinctively dark, black-edged muscular foot and mantle. Its heavy, oval shell displays rough spiral ribs and a corrugation pattern, usually encrusted with marine growth but revealing a red-brown tone when cleaned. It features 5 to 8 open, low-rimmed respiratory pores along the shell edge. |
About Blacklip Abalone
The Blacklip Abalone (Haliotis rubra) is the foundational pillar of Australia's wild seafood industry, anchoring the nation's multi-million-dollar commercial wild harvest. Highly adapted to high-energy, turbulent reef zones, it uses a massive muscular foot to suction tightly onto rock faces while feeding on drifting kelp. Prized globally for its rich, traditional flavour and robust texture, this ecologically vital grazer is protected by strict commercial quotas and size limits to ensure long-term population sustainability.