Green Abalone

Green abalone are marine snails with one shell and a strong, muscular “foot” that they use to move and to grip onto hard surfaces. They are found from Point Conception, California, to Bahia de Magdalena, Mexico. These abalone live in shallow waters on open or exposed coastline from the low intertidal zone to at least 30 feet, and perhaps as deep as 60 feet. They are found in rocky crevices, under rocks, and other cryptic spaces.

Their oval-shaped shell protects the abalone from predators. The shell is usually brown and marked with many low, flat-topped ribs which run parallel to the 5 to 7 open respiratory pores that are elevated above the shell’s surface. The inside of the shell is an iridescent blue and green. A ruffle of tissue along the side of the foot is called a epipodium and contains sensory organs and pigment spots. The cephalic (head) and epipodial tentacles are olive green, but the epipodial fringes are a mottled cream and brown, with tubercles scattered on the surface and a frilly edge.

Green abalone have separate sexes and broadcast spawn from early summer through early fall. They reach maturity at 2.4 to 5 inches in length or about 5 to 7 years, and can live to 30 years or more. Being herbivores, they feed mostly on drift algae and prefer fleshy red algae.

Threats

Demographic and Genetic Diversity Concerns

Population size has declined in many areas. In California, commercial landings peaked in the early 1970s and have since declined precipitously. Reduced numbers make the species vulnerable to local extinction due to a phenomenon known as the "Allee effect". The Allee effect describes a situation whereby a decrease in population size leads to decreases in reproduction and survival of individuals. In the case of green abalone, this effect is likely due to increased distance between males and females as the population density decreases, leading to reproductive failure.

Factors for Decline

The primary factors contributing to the decline of green abalone are overharvest, suspected illegal harvest, and trade. Other factors include disease (withering syndrome) and elevated water temperatures (e.g., due to El Niño and warm water events). 

In California, green abalone were targeted after the collapse of the pink abalone fishery in 1970. Landings of green abalone peaked in 1971 (greater than 494 metric tons). By 1990, the landings had declined to 6 percent of the average in 1968 to 1972. In 1996, the California Department of Fish and Game (now called the California Department of Fish and Wildlife) closed the commercial and recreational abalone fisheries in southern California, but populations continued to decline. 

Information regarding the status of green abalone in Mexico is scant. Aquaculture programs have been developed to artificially enhance populations. A commercial fishery for green abalone continues to operate in Mexico and is managed by local cooperatives.

References

Allee, W.C., A.E. Emerson, O. Park, T. Park, and K.P. Schmidt. 1949. Principles of Animal Ecology. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

California Department of Fish and Game. 1986. California Abalone, Marine resources Leaflet No. 11, Marine Resources Division, Long Beach, California, U.S.

California Department of Fish and Game. 2005. Abalone recovery and management plan.