ESA Outplanting Permit Application for White Abalone

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region has requested to renew a research and enhancement permit to outplant larval, juvenile, and adult white abalone off southern California. The permit renewal would allow outplanting activities to continue for another five years.

The purpose of the proposed work is to develop an effective strategy for recovering white abalone. Activities would include field outplanting of larval, juvenile, and adult white abalone, as well as post-outplant monitoring to assess survival, distribution, growth, and health of outplants. All outplanting would be conducted within the Southern California Bight and would use white abalone from approved captive facilities. The proposed work would benefit the listed species by increasing numbers of white abalone in the wild to create self-sustaining populations in locations where white abalone are close to or at local extinction.

The permit renewal application has been posted for public comment on May 7, 2025. All written comments on the application should be submitted by email to nmfs.wcr-apps@noaa.gov. Please include the permit number (18116-2R) in the subject line of the email. Public comments are due on or before June 6, 2025.