Review of the technical challenges facing aquaculture of the European abalone Haliotis tuberculata in Ireland

Insufficient supply of available market size abalone from the wild stocks has resulted in increasing efforts since the early 1990s to culture this valuable marine shellfish. Despite significant financial investment and the establishment and expansion of farms around Europe, the production of a saleable end product has remained undefined. The technical barriers to producing viable juvenile abalone spat still impair growth of the industry in Ireland. Critical developments required in the industry are identified. Uptake of these developments from research remains slow due to the trial-and-error approach taken by operators. Using technologies and procedures from producing countries and implementing them into Irish culture conditions will aid the development and expansion of the industry.