Abalone - Threat of Extinction

Photo courtesy of Glen Bickford and Jane Bailey

Abalones have been identified as one of the many classes of organism threatened with extinction due to acidification of oceans from anthropogenic carbon dioxide, as reduced pH erodes their shells. It is predicted that abalones will become extinct in the wild within 200 years at current rates of carbon dioxide production.

In 1997 southern California was closed to the taking of abalone by both sport and commercial divers. This ban was introduced by the California State Department of Fish and Game as it became apparent that the numbers of abalone in southern California were so small it was feared that some species would become extinct. Abalone can still be taken north of San Francisco but only by skin diving (no air tanks) and a special abalone stamp must be purchased in addition to the regular sport license. This allows funding of a program to monitor the status of the stocks. Abalone diving remains a popular sport and as the human population grows in Northern California these remaining dense beds of abalone above San Francisco are threatened by poaching as well as sanctioned take. Northern California was never open to commercial abalone fishing and while El Niños and disease have not impacted the population, there are areas of easy access that have experienced serial depletion.

As abalone numbers decreased their price increased. This price increase began in the 1970s so that by the time the numbers of abalone were plummeting the price had reached a good $30 a pound. California had been one of the centers for commercial abalone harvesting and demand for the abalone was still high due to popular culture along the coast.

Genevieve (Genny) Anderson Author of online Marine Science Santa Barbara City College