The most dangerous job in the world?

Many professions carry risk, but none quite so much as that of the commercial abalone diver. For these intrepid individuals the work can be cold, wet and fraught with dangers, including strong currents and sharks.

Australia is the only country recommended by WWF Hong Kong as a sustainable source of wild-caught abalone. Australia's tiny state of Tasmania is the country's biggest source - bringing in almost 2,000 tonnes a year - or about a quarter of the world's wild abalone. Diving for wild abalone is year-round, but demand starts to increase around this time as processors and suppliers start to prepare for Lunar New Year.

That's why Fishing Investment and Management (FIM) – a Transworld Resources Limited (TRL) company and new member of the Transworld Group – is gearing up for business. As Australia's leading broker and advisor to the seafood industry, FIM handles the majority of abalone quota sales and valuations in Tasmania and Victoria. As well as brokering $multimillion deals, it is also involved in many aspects of the international fishing industry.

FIM was established in 1991 and after being acquired by TRL in 2013, it has consolidated its position as Australia's one-stop shop for all fisheries sales, valuations and asset management. More importantly, with the full weight of the Transworld Group and its international experience behind it, FIM can fulfil ambitious plans to expand the business into brokering highend seafood products into international markets. Exciting times ahead for us all in 2014.

Check out our recent visit to Tasmania and interviews with FIM's founders and leading figures in Tasmanian fisheries.