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Abalone Declining Population

There have been reports of numerous empty shells of undersized abalone at popular fishing sites. Although there are many possible causes of death for undersized abalone, a likely cause is carelessness in picking and returning undersized abalone.

Ab irons are designed to reduce the chances of injuring abalone, but the irons can still cause fatal wounds if used improperly. Foot cuts deeper than ½ inch are likely to cause death since abalone have no blood clotting capabilities. Cuts around the head are often fatal. When sliding an iron under an abalone, keep the iron as close to the rock as possible to avoid stabbing the foot. In prying abalone off rocks it is important that the ab iron handle be lifted away from the rock so that the tip of the bar does not dig into the bottom of the foot.

Even uninjured abalone could easily be killed by predators if they are not carefully returned to suitable habitat. Abalone put on sandy areas or seaweed covered rock surfaces will not be able to clamp down sufficiently to protect themselves from predators. Fishing regulations require an undersized abalone be returned to the same surface of the rock from which it was detached. Experienced abalone pickers can distinguish undersized abalone and do not remove them from rocks. Avoiding removal of undersized abalone helps protect abalone populations since any time an abalone is removed from a rock, there is a chance that it could be fatally injured or unable to reattach to a safe location

In the last 20+ years, the commercial catch of abalone worldwide has declined from 18,000mt to a little over 10,000mt. Below are listed 6 major reasons for the decline. Number 5 (Illegal harvesting) is by far the largest and most important reason for the Abalone decline.

1. Predation. Sea otters (major abalone predators) expanded their range in central California virtually eliminating recreational and commercial fisheries for abalone and other invertebrates. Commercial abalone harvesting is now primarily concentrated in southern California.

2. Mortality of small abalone for many reasons.

3. Over harvesting. Abalone are easily over harvested because of slow growth and variable reproductive success. Initial high harvests cannot be sustained.

4. Competition. Sea urchins and other species, utilizing abalone food and living space.

5. Illegal harvesting. Some people ignore the regulations enacted to protect abalone because abalone bring high prices.

Loss of habitat. Coastal "development" and pollution have ruined large areas of abalone habitat.