Abalone Farming

Typical Problems For Abalone Farmers/Corporations

• A technology is developed to farm an abalone species. Changes in technology over time are more provincial rather than on a world scale. Farmers often unnecessarily torment themselves through many years of losing money and endless cuts and bruises.
  
• Once the species is considered commercially viable to produce and production rises, a series of market questions begin, such as, "Why isn't the product accepted as quickly as we anticipated in the marketplace? Why is our price lower than our projections?" Often there is no marketing program in place with a worldwide prospective.
  
• Long after commercial production of a particular species is in the upswing cycle regrettably, the serious marketing strategy begins. The species is almost never market driven for long periods of time while the production escalates.

The future of world abalone prices will be affected by factors on both the supply and demand sides of the market - -but within a limited range, remaining highly profitable for abalone farms taking advantage of changing world wide technology and developing experienced marketing programs.

Marketing Your Abalone

Abalone aquaculture, even at its growing pace will take many years to fill the declining supply of the world' wild abalone fisheries. (see charts above) With quickly expanding world abalone farming production, we will see some profitability decline for those operations not utilizing appropriate technology and not developing worldwide marketing programs.

2007 Worldwide Abalone Farming Production

• California, USA:  There are currently 13 abalone farms on the coast of California The farmed size is normally 75 to 100mm and they are available live or processed. The largest farm produces over 100 tons and the smaller less than 10tons.
  
• Japan:  Japan has many major seed farming operations, most of which are involved in ocean enhancement, totals of which are included under Fisheries. 30 to 40 million seeds are planted annually. Almost all Japanese farming consists of ocean bottom growing from farmed seeds.
  
• China:  China is the worlds largest producer with over 300 abalone farms with production expected to produce over 26,000mt in 2007, excluding lower value species. Most production is consumed within China.
  
• Korea:  Total production in 2007 is anticipated at over 4,000mt.
  
• Taiwan:  Taiwan currently has over 400 farms (many are small family run operations). Total production in 2007 is anticipated at over 4,000 tons, including lower value species. Most Production is consumed in Taiwan.
  
• Thailand:  Newest and fastest growing farming nation. Mostly H.diversicolor supertexta .
  
• Australia/New Zealand:  Farmed production is estimated at 600mt in 2007 This total reflects the current virus problems in Australia.
  
• Chile and South Africa:  Combined production should exceed 1,000 metric tons in 2007 mostly H.rufescens and H.midae.
  
• Miscellaneous Countries:  In combination, all of Europe, Iceland and Pacific Rim countries should have a farm production of over 300 metric tons in 2007.

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