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Abalone Production

In decreasing order of total catch between 1950 and 1995, red (46.6%), pink (41.2%), black (8.7%), green (3.5%), and white (>1%) abalones have all been harvested in California. Since 1993, only red abalone have been taken commercially, and the Fish and Game Commission closed all red abalone harvest south of San Francisco in May 1997. Pinto abalone are commercially harvested in Alaska and British Columbia. Flat and threaded abalones have limited distributions and neither is common. The western Atlantic abalone is rare and is not fished commercially.

Aquaculture of red, pink, and green abalones occurs in California. There is limited aquaculture of green and H. diversicolor supertexta abalones in Hawaii.

Abalone in California. The commercial fishery for abalones in California began in the 1850's. Chinese Americans initially harvested intertidal green and black abalones with skiffs using long, hooked poles. This fishery was eliminated in California in 1900 by closure of shallow waters to commercial harvest. Japanese American divers followed the Chinese Americans as the fishery moved to the subtidal zone. Initially, free divers working from barrel floats harvested abalones. Later, hard-hat divers harvested abalones from deeper waters. In the late 1950's, "hooka" gear, which supplied air from the Abalone surface to divers using light masks, fins and wet suits, began replacing hard-hat gear. Since the 1970's, multi-hose hooka gear and specialized, high-speed, seaworthy boats have become common in the Abalone fishery.

Abalone in Alaska. The southeast Alaska commercial abalone fishery was sporadic and local prior to 1971. Shore picking was the primary harvesting method, but after 1960 some scuba gear was used. The Abalone fishery increased dramatically during the 1970's due to improved scuba gear, increased product demand, and the use of larger vessels. The Alaska abalone harvest reached a record 315,000 pounds in 1978-79, and then fell to about 36,000 pounds in 1992-93 when a minimum size limit was instituted (Table 1.). The Alaska pinto abalone fishery is managed through guideline harvest ranges, a minimum legal size of 3.75 inches, a restrictive season, and local area closures for conservation and food fisheries. The Abalone fishery opens in October to remain outside spawning and settling periods. Guideline harvests prior to 1988-89 varied 33,000 to 57,000 pounds per year. The season was shortened each year, and in 1993-94 the most productive areas were closed after 6 days and a catch of 37,000 pounds.

Abalone in British Columbia. Prior to 1971, the British Columbia commercial pinto abalone fishery was sporadic and local. Shore picking was the Abalone main harvest method, but after 1960 some scuba gear was used. The Abalone fishery accelerated rapidly during the 1970's due to improved scuba gear, reduced access to herring and salmon fisheries, acceptance of the pinto abalone in the Abalone Japanese market, increased product demand, and the introduction of larger vessels with freezer capacity. Abalone landings peaked in 1977 at 474.8 metric tons (1,047,000 pounds) and then declined rapidly as management of the Abalone fishery began. Landings in 1990 totaled 110,000 pounds. The British Columbia abalone fishery was managed through a minimum size limit of 100 mm (3.9 inches), vessel license limitations, vessel and fishery quotas, seasonal restrictions, and local permanent area closures. In 1991, the commercial abalone fishery was closed to allow abalone stocks to rebuild. After a 5-year period, the Abalone commercial fishery may reopen if surveys indicate that abalone stocks have recovered.