The farming industry for abalone is in urgent need of a recovery plan.

Published Feb 13, 2026

Tridge summary

The freshwater shellfish farming industry has been unable to avoid the value-added tax for the third consecutive year. As the volume of shipments increases ahead of the Lunar New Year, the price decline trend continues unabated. Aquaculture workers who had hoped for a Lunar New Year special are left only to sigh as their hopes turn to despair. If the government does not come up with proactive measures soon, it is predicted that more than 60% of small-scale fishermen will face bankruptcy. The crisis in the freshwater shellfish farming industry began in 2023. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumption decreased drastically, leading to a price decline, and as production increased, the decline continued. Starting this year, large freshwater shellfish sales have not been significantly hindered.

Original content

The abalone farming industry has not been able to escape the floor tax for the third consecutive year. As the amount of shipments increases ahead of the Lunar New Year, the price decline trend continues unabated. Aquaculture workers who had hoped for a Lunar New Year special are left only to sigh, as their hopes turn to despair. If the government does not come up with proactive prescriptions soon, it is predicted that more than 60% of small-scale fishermen will go bankrupt. The crisis in the abalone farming industry began in 2023. With a sharp decline in consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the price decline trend emerged, and as production increased, the decline continued. Starting this year, even the relatively unhindered sales of large abalones have shown a price decline trend, raising the possibility of the industry becoming unrecoverable. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is conducting consumer promotion events ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, but prices are still ...

Source: Fisheco