Every spring at the start of abalone season, thousands of people gear up and head out to their favorite spot on the north coast to rock-pick or dive for red abalone. Strong winds often accompany the spring months, which can make ocean waters rough. Between 1993 and 2012 more than 54 people lost their lives while trying to take abalone in a variety of circumstances including rough weather, and every year Continue reading
An online survey soliciting public opinion about red abalone fishery management is now available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website. Public input will inform the development of a red abalone fishery management plan, and help CDFW to address the interests and concerns of the public. For more information, please see the March 30, 2017 press release. To learn more about abalone management and the fishery management plan development process, please visit the CDFW website.
post by CDFW Research Writer Mary Patyten
this post has been updated
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds divers and rock-pickers gearing up for the start of the red abalone season that the bag limit and season have changed for this popular fishery under emergency regulations for 2017.
The season has been shortened by two months, with an opening date of May 1 instead of April 1, and a closing date of October 31 instead of November 30. In addition, the annual limit has been lowered to 12 abalone (from 18 abalone). The California Fish and Game Commission approved a shortened season Continue reading
Northern California kelp forests have been reduced to an all-time low due to a “perfect storm” of large-scale ecological impacts. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) marine invertebrate management team has conducted annual ecosystem surveys of kelp forests in Sonoma and Mendocino counties since the late 1990s, and recent observations have caused concern about the state of the kelp forests. The severe reduction in kelp has already impacted the recreational red abalone fishery and commercial red urchin fishery, two economically important fisheries in northern California.
Abalone and Urchins Starving
Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), usually common on the northern California coast, has declined dramatically since 2014. Kelp forests are now 93 percent smaller compared to previous years, creating starvation conditions for herbivores. Continue reading
A biological hotspot resides off California’s southern coast at La Jolla, characterized by dense kelp forests, surfgrass beds, hard- and soft-bottom deep water habitats, and both sandy beaches and rocky shores. To protect this ecologically diverse area, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve (SMR) as a marine protected area (MPA) in January 2012. Continue reading
