Thanks The Surfer’s Journal for a generous donation to our Abalone project in memory of Flippy Hoffman.

Coastkeeper is actively working towards restoring green abalone in Orange County, as part of a region-wide partnership across the Southern California coast. We are currently diving along the local coastline to monitor existing green abalone populations, and collecting tissue samples for genetic testing.

As of November 17, 2011 Coastkeeper staff and volunteer divers have collected a total of 12 tissue samples from 12 different individuals! This number may seem pretty small, but take into account the difficulty of finding these little buggers given the small population. Thanks again to all of our donors and volunteers for your help!

What is an abalone?

Abalones are small to large sea snails (marine gastropod mollusks) that are found worldwide. On the outside this animal may seem rather uncharismatic and obscure as it blends in very well with the algae-covered rocky reefs of the coastal surf zone and looks more like a rock. You may call it the “tortoise of the sea” as it is very slow moving as it grazes the algae on the reefs.  However abalone have played an important part in California coastal culture.  Native Americans used abalone for food and trade, and the commercial abalone fishery in southern California employed thousands of workers.  Any native Californian older than 40 can remember the time of abundance of abalone, and for many it was a common beach activity to recreationally fish abalone and collect their shells, which have a mother-of-pearl coloring, making them highly desirable as jewelry and other decorative objects.

In addition to its value to commercial and recreational fisheries, abalone is a key component of the overall health and function of the shallow rocky reef ecosystem in which they are found. Abalones are important herbivores in the marine food web feeding mainly on kelp and other species of algae. They help to control certain populations of algae growing on reefs. Abalone is also an important food source for lobsters, crabs, octopuses and other species. Abalones compete for food and space with sea urchins and thus help to control urchin populations. Urchin populations, if left unchecked, contribute to the destruction of kelp forests as they prefer to munch on kelp holdfasts, which anchor this giant brown algae to the seafloor.

Historically five species of abalone (red, pink, green, black and white) were abundant in California coastal waters, and supported both commercial and recreational fisheries.  Stock collapse due to commercial and recreational fishing pressure, disease and parasites, predation, and environmental factors, including water quality, led to the closure of all abalone fisheries in southern and central California in 1997.  Abalone are slow-maturing animals and thus more susceptible to overfishing. Abalone populations have not since recovered and today only northern California’s red abalone sport fishery remains. Without concerted efforts to encourage abalone restoration, the disappearance of all species of abalone from the Southern California coast is likely.

Abalone Biology

Depending on the species, abalones occur from the intertidal area to depths of 200 feet. Green abalone, the focus of Coastkeeper’s current project, appear in coastal waters between the low tide line and 18 meters in depth. Characteristically found in rock and boulder territories where they can find kelp and other algae species, their main food source, and hide from predators. Green abalone can grow to be 60 to 130 millimeters (2.4-5 inches) long when fully developed. Green abalone also have a better tolerance to warm water than other species of abalone.

What’s Being Done?

California has recognized that abalone populations are depleting at a swift pace; and if this pace keeps up, the state’s abalone species will disappear. To address this threat, the State Legislature directed the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to develop a plan for the recovery and management of abalone populations. The Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP) was developed in 2005 and updated in 2011.  The ARMP is the foundation for abalone restoration in California, and will guide the activities of the Coastkeeper project.

Project Area

Coastkeeper plans to restore green abalone in the rocky intertidal and kelp forest areas of Orange County from Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach to Dana Point. This area holds the best habitat for abalone in Orange County, and held large numbers of abalone through the early 1970’s.

Project Goals

The main focus of our project is to provide direct benefits to green abalone (Haliotis fulgens). Specifically, the project will contribute to the recovery of this species by establishing Minimum Viable Population(s) (MVP) density. Another important project goal is the testing and development of the proposed efficient, non-regulatory and cost-effective restoration methods credited to this project. The data derived from this project will inform future efforts with green abalone and possibly other abalone species by identifying the ideal age class(s) and depth(s) for out-planting green abalone in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Green Abalone are found in rocky, near-shore areas

Partnerships

As Coastkeeper leads the effort in green abalone research towards restoration in Orange County, it is important to note that our project is part of a larger endeavor being taken up by NGOs throughout southern California. OCCK works with a number of partners in this regional program, including:

• City of Newport Beach
• L.A. Conservation Corps – SEA Lab
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Get Inspired!
• The Ocean Institute
• Santa Monica Baykeeper (SMBK)
• Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC)

Abalone in the News:

Protection zone established for endangered black abalones, Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com 
Black abalone: Federal wildlife officials on Wednesday issued a final ruling designating about 140 square miles of critical habitat for endangered black abalone along the California coast.

Update: Fish and Game Commission Votes to Close Abalone Fishery in Sonoma County 
The California Fish & Game Commission adopted an emergency action on September 15 closing the abalone fishery along most of the northern California coast, Sonoma County in particular. This action was taken after multiple reports of dead red abalone and other invertebrates, which are thought to have occurred as the result of a toxic red tide algae bloom, although the exact reasons are unknown.  For more information visit the California Fish & Game website.