Northern abalone
Encyclopedia
The northern abalone or pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, is a species
of large edible sea snail
, a marine
gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalone
s.
along the coast of Canada
to Point Conception
, California
.
The distribution of this species also include Korea.
Alaska-Peak harvest was between 1978 and 1981 (260,000 lbs); average harvest declined to 50,000 lbs in 1994. The commercial fishery was closed in 1996; recreational free-diving fishery remains.
Washington-There was no historical commercial fishing; the recreational fishing closed in 1994 due to declines in abundance. Surveys in the San Juan Islands indicate a decline in density at many sites. Densities at all but one site are below or within the minimum range for successful fertilization. Abalone size has increased between 1996 and 2006 but abundance has not.
Canada-The fishery began in the early 1970's and the peak fishery was in 1977-1978 (400t). Subsequently there was a population decline and quotas were instituted. As populations did not recover there were continuing quota reductions through 1989 (47.2t) withough population response. The fishery was closed in 1990 to all user groups but there has been continued declines in abundance since closure.
to 30 feet (9 m) depth, but they can be found to 330 feet (100 m) depth. Like all abalones, they are herbivorous.
Species of Concern. Species of Concern are those species about which the U.S. Government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The species is called pinto abalone by NMFS. It was declared a spicies of concern by the NMFS in 2004.
The state of Washington never permitted commercial harvest and recreation take was outlawed in 1994. Alaska outlawed commercial harvest in 1996.
Harvest has been illegal in Canada since 1990.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
(COSEWIC) has listed it as a threatened species. The Canadian Species at Risk Act
listed it in the List of Wildlife Species at Risk as being threatened in Canada.
This species is now endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, mainly due to uncontrolled harvesting and poaching of the species for food.
Factors for decline include: over harvest, illegal, unregulated, unreported harvest, predation by recovering sea otter
s and disease.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of large edible sea snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
, a marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
s.
Shell description
The pinto abalone has an adult shell size of approximately 4 inches, but it can rarely grow as large as 6 inches. The shell is flattened and ear-shaped, and has 3 to 6 respiratory holes. The interior of the shell is iridescent.The shell is generally green-brown but can have white or blue coloration and has a somewhat scalloped edge. The epipodium is lacy and green-brown in color. Tentacles surrounding the foot and extending out of the shell sense food and predators.Distribution
Pinto abalone are found in kelp beds along outer well-exposed coasts from Sitka, AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
along the coast of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Point Conception
Point Conception
Point Conception is a headland along the Pacific coast of U.S. state of California, located in southwestern Santa Barbara County. It is the point where the Santa Barbara Channel meets the Pacific Ocean, and as the corner between the mostly north-south trending portion of coast to the north and the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The distribution of this species also include Korea.
Status by Location
California-Pinto abalone were never a major component of recreational or commercial catch. There was however a 10-fold decline in abundance in northern California. (156,00 in 1971 to 18,000 in 1999-2001)Alaska-Peak harvest was between 1978 and 1981 (260,000 lbs); average harvest declined to 50,000 lbs in 1994. The commercial fishery was closed in 1996; recreational free-diving fishery remains.
Washington-There was no historical commercial fishing; the recreational fishing closed in 1994 due to declines in abundance. Surveys in the San Juan Islands indicate a decline in density at many sites. Densities at all but one site are below or within the minimum range for successful fertilization. Abalone size has increased between 1996 and 2006 but abundance has not.
Canada-The fishery began in the early 1970's and the peak fishery was in 1977-1978 (400t). Subsequently there was a population decline and quotas were instituted. As populations did not recover there were continuing quota reductions through 1989 (47.2t) withough population response. The fishery was closed in 1990 to all user groups but there has been continued declines in abundance since closure.
Habitat
This species lives on rocky shores. These abalones are found intertidally or subtidally near kelpKelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
to 30 feet (9 m) depth, but they can be found to 330 feet (100 m) depth. Like all abalones, they are herbivorous.
Reproduction
They broadcast spawn from April to June. Larval dispersal is limited. Lifespan is about 15 years.Conservation
Population size has declined due to overharvesting, illegal harvesting, predation by recovering sea otters, and disease. Because of concerns about its status the Northern Abalone is a U.S. National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Marine Fisheries Service
The National Marine Fisheries Service is a United States federal agency. A division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Commerce, NMFS is responsible for the stewardship and management of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat within the...
Species of Concern. Species of Concern are those species about which the U.S. Government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The species is called pinto abalone by NMFS. It was declared a spicies of concern by the NMFS in 2004.
The state of Washington never permitted commercial harvest and recreation take was outlawed in 1994. Alaska outlawed commercial harvest in 1996.
Harvest has been illegal in Canada since 1990.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada ; French: Le Comité sur la situation des espèces en péril au Canada, is an independent committee of wildlife experts and scientists whose "raison d’être is to identify species at risk" in Canada...
(COSEWIC) has listed it as a threatened species. The Canadian Species at Risk Act
Species at Risk Act
The Species at Risk Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation which became law in Canada on December 12, 2002. It is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal of the Act is to protect endangered or threatened...
listed it in the List of Wildlife Species at Risk as being threatened in Canada.
This species is now endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, mainly due to uncontrolled harvesting and poaching of the species for food.
Factors for decline include: over harvest, illegal, unregulated, unreported harvest, predation by recovering sea otter
Sea Otter
The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals...
s and disease.