Abalone farming – A sustainable culture for the future

Abalones also known as sea snails belong to the family Haliotidae. It is considered as one of the most expensive seafood consumed in many Asian countries due to its flavourful meat, shimmering pearls, nutritive value and tenderness. Abalone farming is a growing industry with over 95% of its production comes directly from culture. Declining fishery catches and high prices, particularly for export markets, have led to an increase in the popularity of abalone cultivation. On the global market, abalone is in great demand, with a 40% discrepancy between supply and demand. The two countries that produce the most abalone are China and South Korea. China also has the greatest market for dried abalone. For export, abalone can be semi-processed, frozen, dried, or canned. Additionally, abalone shells can be sold for inlay work, jewellery, and buttons. Thus, abalones have wide market and export value which makes it a profitable farming to the farmers.