A Study on the Trade in Dried Abalones in Hong Kong

Abstract

Abalones Haliotidae are edible marine molluscs, the meat of which is highly prized as a luxury food item worldwide. A large proportion of the trade takes place in Asia, especially China, where dried abalone has been prized for millennia. From 1997 to 2001, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was the largest importer and re-exporter of dried abalones, accounting for 48% and 100% of the global import and re-export quantities, respectively. Nearly 80% was consumed locally or stockpiled for future trade. This study, which reviewed trade statistics covering the years 1992 to 2003 and which involved market surveys, identified four species of dried abalone in Hong Kong: Haliotis discus discus and H. discus hannai from Japan, H. midae from South Africa, and H. mariae from the Middle East. Unsustainable fisheries and over-exploitation of abalones are affecting the abalone stocks of most countries with abalone fisheries or aquaculture. This review shows that the commodity categories in the trade statistics in Hong Kong, as well as the global trade statistics held by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are not detailed enough to allow accurate assessment of the trade. A review of these trade categories is urgently needed.