Abalone Adventure Tour, TASMANIA
Airing Date: Jul 4th, 2005
Tasmania is the world's largest supplier of wild abalone, producing 25 per cent of the total global catch. The abalone industry is big business, where licences cost in excess of $1 million. Abalone is one of the most prized sea delicacies worldwide and costs around $80 a kilo in Australia.
Farming of abalone began in the late 1950's and early 1960's in Japan and China. A very rapid development of abalone cultivation has taken place in the 1990s and it is now widespread in many countries including USA, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Japan, China, Taiwan, Ireland, Iceland and others.
Abalone is an edible mollusc and is considered a delicacy. It has a single, ear-shaped shell lined with mother of pearl. The two main species of abalone are the Greenlip and the Blacklip abalone. Abalone feed on algae and cling to rocks by a large muscular foot. The muscular foot provides the meat.
Abalone adventures will take you on a tour to catch the Abalone! Your guide for the day will collect you in the morning and take you to a sheltered location in the south of Tasmania, chosen according to weather conditions on the day.
You will be supplied with a recreational diving licence, and all the snorkelling gear you will need to collect your own Abalone. Your guide will show exactly how to find and collect them using a tool called the 'ab scab' which is designed to slice off the shell fish with out causing it to tense it's large 'foot' muscle. The Abalone can be found in only 1-2 meters of water.
After you have caught your abalone, your guide will clean them, and you may elect to have some or all of them cooked up for you. To do this the abalone is removed from its shell, sliced then cooked with garlic and butter. All you have to do is relax and take in the magnificent location, as you enjoy an incredibly fresh and delicious feast of Tasmania's world renowned abalone.
Further Information
Jetstar will fly you one way to Hobart from $69 ex Melbourne, $79 ex Adelaide, $89 ex Sydney
& $129 ex Brisbane
Prices available online only & include surcharges, fees & taxes. Conditions apply.
jetstar.com
Prices correct 16/6/05
Rooms at the Comfort Inn Port Arthur start from $127 a double. Facilities include cocktail bar & restaurant.
Comfort Inn Port Arthur Ph) 03 6250 2101
An abalone tour with Abalone Adventures starts from $200 a person.
Includes transfers, gear, recreational diving licence & lunch
Abalone Adventures Ph) 0427 671 701 www.abaloneadventures.com.au.
Prices correct at 04/07/05
